Jayden Laverde wants to earn a place in the Essendon midfield
ESSENDON has received some positive injury news with rising star Jayden Laverde on track to be available for Round 1.
Essendon
Don't miss out on the headlines from Essendon. Followed categories will be added to My News.
ESSENDON has received some positive injury news with rising star Jayden Laverde on track to be available for Round 1.
The 20-year-old had a delayed start to the Bombers’ pre-season training because of an appendix operation.
Laverde has now recovered from the procedure and is desperate to catch up on what he has missed.
2017 HEROES: CHECK OUT THESE LAST KICK STARS
TOP MOMENTS: WHAT WERE THE BEST GAMES IN 2016?
STANDING TALL: BEST PERFORMANCES DURING THE 2016 SEASON
“I’m feeling good, I’m pretty much back to full health and getting my workloads up for full training,” he said.
“I couldn’t do anything for a couple of weeks … it took a little bit of time to get back into the weights room but I’m feeling good now and hopefully it doesn’t set me back too much.”
After being taken with pick 20 in the 2014 national draft, Laverde has played 18 games across his first two seasons of football.
Out of contract late last year, the forward turned his back on interest from rival clubs and committed to the Bombers for another two years.
While he has spent most of his early career inside the forward 50 metre arc, Laverde is eyeing a move into the midfield.
The Bombers could have a strong midfield group in 2017, with banned duo Jobe Watson and Dyson Heppell returning this year.
They will link up with last season’s breakout stars Zach Merrett and Darcy Parish.
Add in David Zaharakis, Brent Stanton and James Kelly and the Bombers will have a perfect mix of youth and experience.
However, Laverde knows he still has some work to do to permanently break into the midfield rotation.
“That’s my goal for the future, so I’m happy playing up forward at the moment but eventually I want to strike myself as a midfielder,” he told the Essendon website.
“I’m getting back into training now so I guess I’ll be spending most of my time as a forward, but eventually I want to get into that midfield.”
Originally published as Jayden Laverde wants to earn a place in the Essendon midfield
Stringer deal set to go down to wire
Essendon’s list boss has given an update on a potential Jake Stringer trade as he shut down talk linking a star midfielder to another club.
Robbo: What ‘seismic’ shift in Bombers’ trade strategy means
In recent years players wanted out of Essendon. This year is different as the Bombers ship off players – and more big moves are coming, writes MARK ROBINSON.