AFL 2024: Essendon track watch as Jake Stringer, Zach Reid impress
Essendon showed off a new-look defence and attack as Jake Stringer burned up the track in a promising pre-season outing. Get the latest intel from Tullamarine here.
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Essendon star Jake Stringer has shrugged off his foot woes while a much-hyped defender showed his best signs yet during Essendon’s match simulation.
Stringer had been on a modified program as he recovered from a foot injury but the dynamic midfielder-forward took part in a full session on Saturday.
Stringer was one of a handful of first-choice players wearing red in a ‘B’ team, alongside Dyson Heppell.
Stringer played as a midfielder against the ‘A’ squad in black and moved well.
The Bombers may have hinted at a new starting defence with a strong set up for the black team, with recruit Ben McKay lining up alongside youngster Zach Reid.
Reid didn’t play at all in 2023 and has only played eight career matches as he battled with his body.
But he showed the talent that has been tantalising Essendon fans by taking a couple of sharp intercept marks and positioning himself well alongside McKay.
Playing alongside the bigger bodied McKay should allow Reid to take the second-best opposition forward and ease the stress on his still developing 202cm frame.
The black defence also featured prime movers Andy McGrath, Mason Redman and Jordan Ridley.
McKay said in November he can see the Bombers becoming the “the best backline in the league” and Brad Scott could inject two starting talls in the former Roo and Reid.
In the forward half, the ‘A’ side played Peter Wright, Harry Jones, Kyle Langford, Jade Gresham and Jye Menzies.
Jones and Wright were largely missing in action throughout 2023, combining for just 15 games, and will have competition from draftee Nate Caddy for the two forward slots.
Gresham meanwhile signed with the Bombers as a free agent and will be injected into the forward half.
The former Saint showed a flash of his ability by roving a pack at warp speed and setting up a Jones goal.
Greasham was involved in a collision with Ben Hobbs at one point but the pair bounced back and trained on.
After signing a one-year extension for 2024, Jones is facing a crunch year to earn a longer-term deal and he moved sharply during match sim, running well to provide a target and he bagged two goals.
The Dons have been under no illusions about wanting to improve at both ends of the ground after ranking 13th for points scored and 16th for points conceded in 2023.
Free agency signing Todd Goldstein continues to firm for a round 1 berth, should Sam Draper (groin) not be fit, with the 315-game veteran in the ‘A’ team and finding plenty of the ball around the ground, with fellow ruck Nick Bryan in the opposing red side.
Former No.5 draft pick Elijah Tsatas was also among those in black.
Utility Nik Cox was in red and played off half-back, a role he seems set to spend time in after being played all over the ground in the opening years of his career.
The Davey brothers appear to have been broken up, with Jayden playing off half-back at times on Saturday, while Alwyn Jr slotted in as a small forward, both in the red side.
CHUGGING AWAY
The Dons had almost a full contingent on the track, with Draper and Sam Weideman (achilles) doing work away from the main group.
Draper pushed through a lengthy running session and did some kicking and moved without any signs of the groin injury that has hampered his start to pre-season.
Midfielder Dylan Shiel (foot and knee) did not train with the main group but watched on for a period while dressed in runners and is expected to return to full training next month.
Youngster Tex Wanganeen remains away from training after picking up a navicular injury in his foot late last year.
While Xavier Duursma took part in much of Saturday’s session, he stepped away at points to run on the second oval at the Hangar as he continues to finetune a hip injury.
The Bombers will face St Kilda in a pre-season match simulation game on February 23 and face Hawthorn in round 1 on March 16.
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