ESSENDON youngster Angus Monfries says new coach Matthew Knights has created a "clean slate" at the club, encouraging young players to push for spots in the senior side.

A youth-laden team downed Brisbane by 27 points in the opening round of the pre-season competition on the Gold Coast on Saturday night.

The match was Knights' first game in charge, after legendary former coach Kevin Sheedy led the club for the past 27 years.

Monfries, 21, said the promising showings from many of the Bombers' younger players continued a pre-season in which they had been encouraged to push their cases.

"Everyone stood up really well, it just shows it's going to be really competitive for a spot no matter who you are this year and I think that's a good thing to have around the footy club," Monfries said.

"I think with a new coach everyone's got a clean slate and everyone wanted to prove a point that they could play footy again.

"It was the first competitive hit-out for the year for us, so it was really good to walk away with the points."

Monfries, who himself wants to push for a greater role in the midfield, after having spent most of his career up forward, said "a new face and new ideas" was positive for the younger brigade.

He said Knights was keen to see the team mix a high intensity with plenty of flair.

"(The plan) was to take risks and take them on and to apply lots of defensive pressure, which I think we did really well," Monfries said.

"We're pleased with that result and I think we've set standards for our club this year.

"I think we're going to try to maintain that for the rest of the year."

Meanwhile, young key position player Scott Gumbleton, picked up at No.2 in the 2006 national draft, is expected to be sidelined for four weeks with a hamstring tear.

That means he will not be available until at least the start of the home and away season.