With the exception of five fresh-faced draftees, every player on Essendon’s list has already been back at training in some capacity ahead of today’s official start.
Even then, there’s a feeling of pre-season formality around the Club today – one that goes beyond just the abundance of sunscreen and red-and-black visor caps welcoming the 27-degree sunshine back to the Melbourne skies.
By 7am, the car park is already filling up. Archie Roberts is first to pull in, perhaps with a few less nerves knowing his two-kilometre time trial has already come and gone alongside the other first-to-fourth years’.
The five draftees (Sullivan Robey, Jacob Farrow, Dyson Sharp, Max Kondogiannis and Huss El Achkar) don’t share that luxury but do have their tensions eased with senior Dons offering to drive them into the Club for their first day.
Elijah Tsatas swings by Kondogiannis’ family house for the early morning pickup, with Andrew McGrath accompanying Robey, Xavier Duursma for Farrow and Mason Redman for fellow SA product Sharp.
Having already returned ahead of schedule last week, Zach Merrett addressed the media upon his official entry this morning.
The first team meeting at 8:15am is largely a showing of appreciation for the Club’s people, with exciting key introductions also made.
Acknowledged for their efforts, the Club’s performance, medical and conditioning staff members are presented with gifts by the rehab group for sticking around to assist the boys and oversee their programs diligently during the off-season.
Spirited and visibly emotional, President Andrew Welsh is all about unity in his first formal address to the playing group in preparation for the season ahead.
One of Welsh’s key themes revolves around the importance of what the players embody as ‘Essendon people’ – not just in how they play, but in their relationships with each other, members, past players and staff.
The quintet of draftees receive a warm reception from the group, and the subsequent training warm-up provides a healthy opportunity for the senior players to further get around their new teammates.
The time trial kicks off.
Redman establishes an early lead and doesn’t look back, powering through for another winning effort in the yearly event he’s consistently performed well in for the best part of a decade.
Duursma, McGrath, Brayden Fiorini and Jye Caldwell round out the list of the first five to the post, with draftees Sharp and Kondogiannis also impressing to finish sixth and seventh respectively.
Relishing a free run on the park, Nik Cox also ticks off the time trial with a solid run, another positive step in his push to return to senior action after the best part of two seasons marred by concussion symptoms.
Dean Solomon is one of the first to see to the players upon reaching the finish line, urging the boys to stay on their feet and remain upright despite the fatigue.
When it comes to the main session’s overall buy-in and approach, Merrett’s comments to essendonfc.com.au ring true.
“We’re certainly training with intensity like I’ve never seen before,” Merrett said.
“Having Mat Inness come in has brought a new freshness and energy to the joint. Training is a little bit different, more intensity, more chaos, which I think is relevant for the game these days.
“That hopefully can translate into games and use our assets on the field to be really exciting for fans to watch. I think we want to play a bit more of an exciting brand.
“We probably were a little bit safe last year and think fans want to see us take the game on and play a bit more chaotically and a bit more attacking to try and score more, and off the back of that, hopefully defend a bit better as well.”
The rapid ball movement is clear from the outset of the drills, the whole group looking to attack with pace.
Typical standouts continue to shine – Zach Reid’s sheer range and intercepting ability is often nightmarish for the key forwards to manage down the line, with the youngsters also keen to make their mark on day one.
Onlookers (of which there are plenty, with Dons members out in force on the first day) are quick to earmark Sharp’s integration into senior training, with his clean hands and ground ball ability standing out from his early touches.
The Bombers’ next main session takes place on Wednesday from 9:30am at the NEC Hangar.