THE transformation of the Essendon Football Club since Kevin Sheedy's departure continued this week with the Bombers signing a new four-year deal with adidas.

Essendon will part company with Puma after six years and join Collingwood as the only two Victorian clubs with adidas as their apparel sponsor.

"They weren't looking to acquire another AFL club," Essendon commercial boss Mark Anderson told The Age. "Then when they learnt we were looking to enter a new partnership they were keen to look at us and from our perspective we are delighted to be continuing our relationship with premium brands."

Essendon and adidas will identify over the coming months one of the Bombers' new young breed under debutant coach Matthew Knights to take part in an advertising campaign focusing on exciting young talent.

Anderson said that the Bombers would also make accessible to adidas their national database of supporters, which numbers 260,000.

■Essendon's ruck stocks have been hit hard by injury and second-gamer Tom Bellchambers will be forced to play as the team's No. 1 ruckman against the Western Bulldogs on Friday night.

Jason Laycock will join David Hille (broken hand) on the sidelines with floating bone in his ankle.

Bellchambers, 19, was picked in the pre-season draft this year as a project player.

Although he made his AFL debut against Hawthorn in round 11, he did not have a hitout and managed only four possessions for the game.With AAP