AFL news: Latest news and notes from Essendon intra-club
Essendon looked to one of its greatest rivals to fill a void in its midfield during the trade period — and the early signs suggest their bargain swap will haunt the Blues.
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Essendon has taken no risks with star forwards Jake Stringer and Peter Wright who sat out the club’s intra-club game on Wednesday.
Stringer (back) and Wright (calf) remain on light duties after missing main training last week.
The Bombers are taking a cautious approach with the pair in the hope the duo will be available for the practice matches in late February and early March.
It has been an interrupted campaign for the marking targets who represent the two most dangerous goal kickers at the club for 2023.
TRACK WATCH
MARTIN REVELATION
Essendon star forward Nic Martin has emerged as a genuine onball option for new coach Brad Scott after an impressive debut in the centre square on Wednesday.
On a day when Zach Merrett dominated and Alwyn Davey Jnr firmed for a Round 1 berth, Martin showed he was ready to add another dimension to his game this season after sparkling in the clinches in the second half of an intra-club game.
Martin enjoyed an outstanding season on a forward flank and wing for the Bombers last year to kick 19 majors including a bag of five on debut against Geelong.
But the bargain supplemental selection period pick-up made a strong statement that he could yet become a damaging onballer, giving new coach Scott another inside midfield option in 2023.
Martin showed composure evading tackles in traffic, clean hands and pushed hard forward to create headaches for the opposition.
He only attended three centre bounces for the year in 2022, but Scott has already shown he is ready to change things up at Tullamarine.
The move could be part of a midfield revamp at Essendon in the new season with new recruit Will Setterfield was also excellent playing on the same side as Merrett and Darcy Parish in the ‘A’ side.
Setterfield was played on a wing at Carlton but could be set for a Will Brodie-style boom year at Essendon, helping give the Bombers extra defensive coverage at the stoppage after ranking 13th for defending clearances last year, according to Champion Data.
Importantly, Martin and Setterfield, who was traded from Carlton in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick, will give Essendon some extra size in the centre square, with Jye Caldwell and Jake Stringer slated to play forward, and Nik Cox down back.
Setterfield is on track to play Hawthorn in Round 1, while superstar midfielder Merrett has been the stand-out of the summer for Essendon this preseason.
BIG BALDWIN
Fringe forward Kaine Baldwin has produced one of the most encouraging performances of his time at Essendon to put his hand up for Round 1 consideration.
Without Peter Wright, Sam Weideman or Stringer on Wednesday, Baldwin took his opportunity to show Scott he can provide a strong aerial contest.
Baldwin was clearly the most threatening key forward and took a swathe of marks including a brilliant contested grab flying three back in the second term.
It is a make-or-break year for the big man who was considered one of the best junior talents in the country before he suffered two knee reconstructions.
Stringer (back) trained away from the main group and ran more than 10km as part of a plan to rejoin teammates next week.
Wright (calf) was also on a modified program while Weideman (quad) ran laps alongside Cox.
BOLTER
Father-son pick-up Alwyn Davey Jnr already looks like he has one of the most lethal kicks in the team.
The small forward landed a couple of beautifully-weighted passes on his teammates’ chests heading inside-50m to bolster his claims for an early game this season.
The smooth-moving goalkicker has shown he has special talent in his first season and could help fill a key void deep in attack.
But the Bombers are aware the eye-catching small forward has a lot of work to do to build his fitness base and body strength to deal with the regular rigours of the AFL.
Midfielder-forward Ben Hobbs came off in the second term after spending some time in the middle alongside Arche Perkins.
HIGHLIGHT REEL
Ruckman Sam Draper spent a big chunk of the game in a key forward role but kicked an electric running goal from the centre bounce late.
Defenders Mason Redman and Jordan Ridley were excellent on Wednesday, helping the team overcome a scrappy start.
Dylan Shiel, who looks in the best physical condition of his career, was also prominent after starting the game in the ‘B’ team’s onball setup.
NINE MAJOR POSITIONAL MOVES TO EXPECT IN 2023
Essendon will trial star tall Nik Cox in more of a defensive role this season as part of Brad Scott’s plans to revamp the Bombers in 2023.
Cox, 21, enjoyed a stunning debut season on the wing in 2020 where the gun right-footer showed off his sublime skills and enormous engine.
But after a nightmare second season curtailed by foot and ankle injuries, the Bombers are considering playing the 200cm utility as a playmaking defender throughout the practice matches.
In the back line, Cox could use his height to advantage as an intercepting defender and rely on his precise footskills to help the Bombers rebound out of the back line.
The club is confident the ballwinner will continue to develop into a flexible weapon after stamping himself as one of the competition’s most exciting young players in his first season averaging 12 disposals a game.
Scott will be unafraid to change things up in a bid to best maximize players’ strengths including Archie Perkins who is set for midfield time this year after two years forward.
Positional changes at other clubs this pre-season include Collingwood’s Will Hoskin-Elliott and Scott Pendlebury (into defence), Geelong’s Oliver Henry (defence), Josh Bruce (defence), Nasiah Wanganeen-MIlera (defence), Carlton’s Sam Docherty (midfield) and Richmond’s Trent Cotchin (forward).
The development of Essendon’s best young talents will be a huge focus for the club under Scott in 2023 following a football review which highlighted shortcomings in the development department.
It is hoped livewires Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Jye Menzie and Alwyn Davey Jr will help significantly increase the forward line pressure after struggling in this area last year.
Star midfielder Dylan Shiel also spent time working on his overhead marking deep in attack at training on Thursday as the speedster continues an excellent pre-season.
Cox’s size could be handy for Essendon’s defence which will otherwise rely on Jayden Laverde, Brandon Zerk-Thatcher and Jordan Ridley to hold up the back line, with back-up key defenders Rhett Montgomerie and Lewis Hayes impressing over summer.
Top-10 draft pick Zach Reid, who was marked a long-term Michael Hurley replacement, remains sidelined with more back problems.
Cox is set to ramp up his training this week after missing the best part of the past two months with an ankle injury he sustained at training in November.
But he is tipped to play some part in the practice matches with Essendon slated to take on Gold Coast on Thursday, February 23 and St Kilda on Friday, March 3.
Key forwards Peter Wright (calf), Sam Weideman (quad) and Jake Stringer (back) will also return from setbacks in time to play in the scratch matches as they prepare to return to the main group.
The Bombers have winnable matches to start the season against Hawthorn and Gold Coast in the opening two rounds.
Essendon has plenty of options to replace Cox on the wing including Sam Durham, Dyson Heppell, Jye Caldwell and Nic Martin.
Top draft pick Elijah Tsatas is also considered natural wingman and will be injected into an outside midfield role in the second half of the season after recovering from a meniscus tear.
Former Blue Will Setterfield is also on track to play an onball role in Round 1 against the Hawks to provide more size and support for star midfielders Zach Merrett, Darcy Parish and Shiel.
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