Aaron Francis hires personal trainer to be ready for first full pre-season, reward Bombers’ faith

ESSENDON’S emerging star Aaron Francis admits asking for a trade to Adelaide was the wrong decision and he’s now ready to reward the Bombers as he approaches the pre-season at top fitness.

Bomber Aaron Francis has gone to extra lengths to prepare himself for season 2019.

ESSENDON’S emerging star Aaron Francis is on track for the first full pre-season of his career after hiring a personal trainer over the off-season to keep in shape.

The Rising Star nominee will enter next season as one of the Bombers’ most hyped players after a brilliant late-season surge.

The 21-year-old took 10 contested marks in the final fortnight of the season, including a Round 23 contest with six contested marks and a Mark of the Year candidate over Adam Saad and Paddy Ryder.

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Aaron Francis soars for his Mark of the Year candidate over Adam Saad and Paddy Ryder in Round 23. Picture: AFL Media

Francis brings down the mark, one of six contested against the Power. Picture: AFL Media

Francis, who had battled depression earlier in the year and taken time away from the club, is yet to complete a full pre-season after a series of injuries and soft-tissue niggles.

It meant the club’s fitness staff were often playing catch-up with him over summer just to get him into shape.

But with his raw power and superb marking skills the sky is the limit if he can elevate his fitness to elite standards.

His manager Michael Doughty told the Herald Sun he had returned to Essendon in excellent shape after taking his preparation into his own hands.

“He has been really focused over the off-season. He engaged a personal trainer back home in Adelaide and he’s really hoping to get a full pre-season under his belt. He really wants to show what he can do.”

Francis has hired a personal trainer to get him in tip top shape for the Bombers’ pre-season. Picture: Getty Images

Francis is out of contract at the end of 2019 but after only five games last year and 10 in total will likely wait until mid-year before signing on again.

Despite an aborted trade in 2017 there is no indication he wants to return home to Adelaide.

But with his upside enormous and the intercepting half back yet to prove he can string together a full season of games, both parties will have a bigger sample size by mid-year.

In an ideal world the Bombers would sign him up over the summer to secure him long-term but if he continues his form early in the year he could be in for a massive payday on an extended deal.

He made clear late in the season he saw his future at Essendon, saying his request for a trade to Adelaide was the wrong decision.

Francis is expected to be a key man in the Bombers’ rise. Picture: Michael Klein

“I do want to be at Essendon in the future,” he told the Herald Sun.

“I made a decision at the end of last year I wanted to leave, but that decision was made when I was going through a pretty rough time in my life. It was definitely the wrong decision. Essendon is where I want to be.”

Essendon coach John Worsfold is hoping for better luck with injuries over the summer after entering 2018 with many of his stars having experienced hampered pre-seasons.

But Joe Daniher is only likely to ramp up his pre-season post-Christmas after groin issues and Mason Redman, slated to take Brendon Goddard’s spot in the side, last week broke his ankle.

Orazio Fantasia also suffered a finger injury last week but should be fine to resume full training in coming weeks.

Francis gets some advice from Essendon captain Dyson Heppell. Picture: AFL Media/Getty Images

Originally published as Aaron Francis hires personal trainer to be ready for first full pre-season, reward Bombers’ faith