ESSENDON young gun David Myers has told how he feared being drafted to Fremantle as he prepares for his AFL debut against Port Adelaide at Telstra Dome.

Myers' manager Colin Young confirmed yesterday that the Dockers had shown intense interest in his client. But the Bombers got in first, picking Myers at No. 6 in last year's draft, one selection ahead of Fremantle's decision to take midfielder Rhys Palmer.

Essendon this week further franked its decision, not only by promoting Myers for his first senior match, but also by taking the unusual step of extending his contract by an extra year to the end of 2010 before he even played a game.

Myers said mixing with AFL-listed players while playing for Perth last year in the WAFL and watching the pressure they were under in a two-team town had set his mind against starting his career in his home state.

"I had a feeling I might go to Fremantle because they had pick seven and after talking to my manager it looked like Freo might be the club I was going to," Myers said.

"But I was pretty happy when I ended up coming to Essendon and it's worked out in the best possible way. I was different to a lot of blokes, I wanted to get out and didn't want to stay in Perth.

"There's a lot of extra stuff you have to deal with if you're a home-town bloke with all the attention in a two-team town … I just wanted to be able to get away from all that and have a fresh start. To be able to come to Melbourne, the home of football — this is where you want to be playing most of your footy, on the MCG and at Telstra Dome."

Myers has played through the midfield and half-back line in the past three weeks with Essendon's VFL affiliate Bendigo.

The 18-year-old spent time last week playing on Melbourne veteran Adem Yze and was also opposed to Western Bulldogs pair Adam Cooney and Jason Akermanis and Brisbane Lions' Troy Selwood during his impressive NAB Cup campaign in the pre-season.

Myers said the extra workload had been an eye-opening experience and although results showed he was stronger and quicker, he had lost three kilograms since he joined the club.

WEST AUSTRALIAN