DANIHER, Neagle, Vander Haar, Bewick, Long, Thompson.

These are names long synonymous with the Essendon Football Club.

Joe Daniher has already carried his storied surname into the AFL with his debut game against Carlton last Friday night.

But he could well be the tip of the iceberg when it comes to unleashing homegrown talent at Windy Hill.

The club has been busy developing a select bunch of youngsters who carry those legendary names, with the hope one day they can be harvested under the father-son rule.

The budding footballers are united under a program named the James Hird Academy, which has been designed to welcome these sons to the club,as well as educate them on what is required to become a successful AFL footballer.

And the list looks imposing.

It boasts the late Merv Neagle's sons Jydon, Nathan and Matthew, as well as Chris Daniher's boys Harvey and Callum.

Mark Thompson's son Daniel is there, as are Paul Vander Haar's son Todd and Michael Long's son Jake.

Dean Wallis's son Tom is among them, as is Jett Bewick, son of Darren.

There was great hype surrounding Joe Daniher, and these names will get Essendon fans excited.

"It's a fantastic concept to give the sons of players that qualify under the 100 games clause the chance to actually have a run at their club for a start and get some additional development through the coaching available," AFL national talent manager Kevin Sheehan told AFL.com.au.

"At the top end of it some of these boys are really showing out on the national stage."

Sheehan has kept an eye on how the young crop has progressed, and nominated Jydon Neagle as the leader of the pack.

"He's a boy from the Murray Bushies (Bushrangers) who's had a great start to the year after suffering stress fractures in the lower back last year," Sheehan said.

"He had ankle injuries and missed half the season, but has come back in fine form for Murray, and continued that form for New South Wales where he was their best player against South Australia in their first game for the nationals."

"He kicked three and was very dangerous up forward."

Neagle's TAC Cup coach Darren Ogier was impressed with how the 18-year-old handled his injury setbacks.

"Jydon came back in much better shape than anticipated he would be in after his extended layoff," Ogier wrote in his notes.

"He has continued to grow and is a good size, accompanied with his skills and ability to read the game, he could become a very dangerous player."

Mark Thompson's son Daniel is also improving.

"We've seen Daniel Thompson also progress from playing for Calder Cannons. He's been very resolute in defence," Sheehan said.

"He's played a couple of games in the VFL with Essendon as well."

Sheehan is also keeping tabs on Jake Long.

"Jakey Long's been injured, but he's the son of Michael.

"We've seen him play for Scotch and the NT (Northern Territory). He's playing on the wing. He's a later developer you would think, much like his father, who really hit the AFL scene at age 20."

The development of these players begins early, with some members just 15 years old.

But the Bombers want to welcome them into the club as soon as possible, and will use them to form a guard of honour for the senior side, when the Dons take on Gold Coast at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.

"It's the luck of the draw as to whether they come through, but it would be pretty scary to see a Bewick up on a forward pocket, or a Vander Haar at centre half-forward, or another Wallis in defence joining the Daniher clan," Sheehan says.

"With Joey debuting, it just shows the great benefit that you can get from the rule if you find one good enough, so the search for talent goes on with the Bombers."

Jacqui Reed is a reporter at AFL Media. Follow her on Twitter @JacquiReedAFL