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.
Essendon
Don't miss out on the headlines from Essendon. Followed categories will be added to My News.
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.
HOW GOOD?: SHEEDY’S HIGH PRAISE FOR FRANCIS
SUPERCOACH: NO GO FOR MIDFIELDER YEO?
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 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.
“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.
‘Flexibility’ behind Bombers’ contract call
Essendon will go into a third season under Brad Scott with its best ruck mix still unclear, but a veteran is “excited” by the possibilities.
Angry Essendon members to turn away over steep price rises
Essendon fans are not happy with an increase in price of over $100 on select memberships. The Bombers are defending the decision despite the consequence of losing members.