Track Watch: Archie Roberts on leadership desire, new high performance team; Isaac Heeney praises Simon Goodwin
Archie Roberts has revealed how Bombers players feels about the club’s new high-performance team, Zach Merrett’s return to the club, and his own leadership ambitions. See all the pictures from the track.
Essendon young gun Archie Roberts has revealed his long-term captaincy aspirations as he declared the Bombers have “full confidence” in the club’s revamped high performance department.
The third-year Bombers defender said he wanted to one day lead the club but would not be throwing his hat in the ring to replace Zach Merrett after his resignation last week.
Roberts said Merrett’s message to teammates following his decision to stand down had been “unbelievable” and well received by the group as they prepared to vote on a new leader early next year.
“Zach’s such a respected player and such a loved player of our group. What he said was unbelievable, and he’s been an unbelievable person and captain for this club for so many years,” he said.
“He’s handed it down, but he’s still an excellent person, we love him, and we can’t wait to see his game go to another level this year.”
The 20-year-old left-footer, who averaged 25 disposals per game across halfback in an impressive second year, agreed fellow defender Andrew McGrath was one of the lead contenders to replace Merrett.
“There’s obviously a few boys in the mix, Andy (McGrath) is a great one, but it’s a player vote, so we’ll see how it all unfolds,” Roberts said.
“There’s so many boys who can step up and be unbelievable leaders, and keeping growing and inspiring (other) leaders as well.”
Asked about his own leadership ambitions, Roberts did not shy away from his ambition to captain the Bombers.
“Yeah, I see myself as a leader of the younger crew, and aspiring to be a leader of the older crew as well,” Roberts said.
“Leadership is something I think is one of my strengths. I’m just going to be here to help guide and help support this next captain, whoever it is.
“Hopefully in a few years, we’ll see what happens, but for the moment I’m just going to try to support and lead this club, and do my part in supporting and protecting this culture.”
Roberts said the players had complete faith in the high performance department led by newcomers Mathew Inness and David Regan despite a “frustrating” spate of recent setbacks to players including luckless duo Jordan Ridley and Kyle Langford.
“Everything’s moving in the right direction,” he said.
“These injuries are annoying, but we’d rather let them happen now than in the season, and we know what they’re doing is getting us right for the season.
“We have full confidence in the new high performance department, and we know those boys are going to come back stronger, it’s not going to be a repeat of last year, for sure.”
‘SHATTERING’ MOMENT MARTIN WENT DOWN
Roberts said he and teammates had witnessed the moment Bombers star Nic Martin slipped and damaged his reconstructed knee in a season-ending training setback a fortnight ago.
“It’s been a tough few weeks for ‘Mart’, we saw the incident happen, and it’s pretty shattering,” Roberts said.
“Seeing an injury like that, particularly to a guy like Marto who went through it all four or five months ago, but we’ve wrapped around him, we’ve made sure he’s OK.
“I think he’s having some time off now ... he’ll be back in and ready to go.
“He came in and was my locker buddy, sort of took me under his wing and gave me some brutal feedback at times when I needed it, some honest feedback, but also some words of encouragement when I did things (well).”
BOMBERS HONE IN ON ‘HARDEST SEVEN MINUTES’
Wednesday’s session at The Hangar was the Bombers’ middle session for the week and at a lighter intensity, but they still conducted some high-speed ball movement drills as Roberts said they were targeting the “hardest seven minutes of games”.
He explained it as preparation for a period in the game where play continues for an unusually long time without stoppages or scores, which the Bombers have identified as an area to improve in next season.
“It’s when the game is at its toughest, so being the fastest and the hardest-working stands out,” he said.
“That seven-minute period of running where you don’t get a break, don’t get water, that’s what we’re trying to target here and emulate that.”
STAR SWAN RAVES ABOUT GOODWIN’S ATTACKING MIND
— Lachlan McKirdy
Swans star Isaac Heeney has sung the praises of premiership-winning coach Simon Goodwin after he joined Sydney’s backroom staff this season.
Goodwin was axed from the Demons earlier this year after nine seasons in charge, with the clear highlight being Melbourne’s 2021 premiership campaign.
After taking some time out of the game to assess his options, Goodwin opted to join Sydney in the newly created role, director of coaching and performance.
He was one of several additions to the Swans’ coaching ranks, including new forwards coach Jeremy Laidler and VFL coach Nick Malceski.
The two former Swans are set to provide invaluable assistance to Dean Cox after his coaching team was left undermanned following the late departure of John Longmire before the 2025 season.
Rather than adding coaches for the sake of it, Cox was happy to take some time to ensure he was recruiting the right people.
But Goodwin’s appointment is a major signal of intent of how the Swans are giving Cox all the tools to succeed. He is one of three former AFL head coaches, along with Longmire and head of football Leon Cameron, who remain in the four walls at the club. Longmire’s role is not football-related, but is close by if needed.
Goodwin linked up with the Swans for the first time this week and spent time getting to know the players during their community camp in Newcastle. While the 48-year-old will be an observer at training for the most part, Heeney has still been struck by Goodwin’s presence around the group.
“Coxy was probably one or two coaches down over the last year, and there was a massive load on him,” Heeney said.
“So now, for this pre-season leading into next season, with two extra coaches, Laids coming from the Giants as well, and then Goody, the knowledge and the way that they communicate is second to none.
“When they do speak, it inspires you, which is something you want as a coach. A premiership-winning coach is something you don’t see much of, so to have him under Coxy, and his knowledge, especially in attack, is second to none.
“It’s exciting, and he’s an amazing fella too.”
Goodwin won’t start full-time in his role until next year, but he is eager to help Cox in any capacity ahead of his second season as a head coach.
TRAINING THE HOUSE DOWN
December is the perfect time for the pre-season cliches, and key forward Logan McDonald is ticking all of the boxes as he pushes for a return to the footy field.
McDonald missed the entire 2025 AFL campaign through an ankle injury, but a cautious approach at the back end of the year has the 23-year-old firing on all cylinders.
While he has bulked up slightly, it’s his speed and agility that are most noticeable in the early stages. And if he can build up his body of work before March, there’s no reason he won’t be lining up in the forward line alongside new recruit Charlie Curnow.
INJURY UPDATE
The Swans’ relatively clean bill of health has taken a couple of hits in recent weeks.
Skipper Callum Mills is on a modified program after injuring his hamstring, but during Wednesday’s session, he was put through some movement drills and moved freely as he continues to build up his strength.
The other concern is draftee Billy Cootee. The reigning Norwood B&F winner was a surprise selection in last month’s draft at pick 42.
While Cootee trained during his first week at the club, the 22-year-old was on crutches during Wednesday’s session in Newcastle. He is dealing with hip soreness and is scheduled to undergo scans later in the week to figure out the issue.
However, he and Mills ensured they were still working on their ball skills, dragging Brett Kirk into a handball drill while Cootee was sitting on a chair.
Originally published as Track Watch: Archie Roberts on leadership desire, new high performance team; Isaac Heeney praises Simon Goodwin
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