Essendon ruckman Tom Bellchambers wants to let form dictate 2021 contract negotiations

Among a host of Bombers without contracts facing uncertain futures, towering ruckman Tom Bellchambers says he’s pushing hard during the COVID-19 suspension to be ready to win an extension at Essendon for 2021.

Essendon ruckman Tom Bellchambers is preparing himself to go head-to-head with tall timber like Nic Naitanui in the hopes it will help him seal a contract extension at the Bombers. Picture: AFL Photos

Essendon ruckman Tom Bellchambers wants to get the most out of the AFL's unprecedented COVID-19 outage and lay the foundations for a contract extension.

Bellchambers is one of a host of frontline Bombers without contracts beyond 2020, but the 30-year-old has "not put much thought" into next year, focused solely on staying in shape towards the AFL restart.

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“There's a lot of people out of contract and the uncertainty wouldn't help that but I've been in this position enough times throughout my career,” Bellchambers said.

“I understand my destiny is in my own hands still.

“For me it's been about continuing with the training and putting myself in a position for when we return that I'll play some good football.

“I'm really confident I can do that and play a key part in the Essendon Football Club winning games of football.

“If I do that, the rest of the contract stuff will take care of itself, I'm not getting any younger but I still believe I've got a lot to offer on and off field.”

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Essendon ruckman Tom Bellchambers is preparing himself to go head-to-head with tall timber like Nic Naitanui in the hopes it will help him seal a contract extension at the Bombers. Picture: AFL Photos

Essendon has only Bellchambers and Andrew Phillips as established ruckman, with the highly-rated and signed fourth-year big man Sam Draper the ultimate successor.

Draper, who had a knee reconstruction last May was expected to figure prominently in 2020, having rejected lucrative advances in the off-season from rival clubs.

First-year draftee Nick Bryan will take time to develop.

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Bellchambers has spent the bulk of the AFL shutdown at his property near Daylesford.

It has allowed the ruckman, who had minor knee surgery in January but got in just enough work to play Round 1, to get right up to peak fitness.

“It's important for me to continue to get the kilometres in my legs," Bellchambers said.

“I find it hard when I slow down to get going again.

“I've got the Glenlyon equestrian track I'm doing my running sessions around, which is handy and just down the road.

“It's an old horse ring that's got a great gravel track there, kind of like The Tan track, and not too many people using it so it's come in very handy.”

Bellchambers is a noted hard worker on the track, but he has to do it by himself at the moment. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images