Essendon turns up the heat on star midfielders, forced to work through hard tags

ESSENDON has turned up the heat on star midfielders Zach Merrett, Dyson Heppell and David Zaharakis, forcing them to work under duress in hotly-contested intra-club matches.

Dyson Heppell has been training the house down, but we won’t see him play AFLX. Picture: Getty Images

ESSENDON has turned up the heat on star midfielders Zach Merrett, Dyson Heppell and David Zaharakis, forcing them to work under duress in hotly-contested intra-club matches.

But newly appointed AFLX captain Zaharakis said the lively and spiteful sessions would make the Bombers better.

Ball magnets Merrett and Heppell were targeted on Friday as the Bombers ramped up preparations for AFLX and JLT Series.

The close attention sparked “little biffs” around the ground at Tullamarine

SUPERCOACH TRACK WATCH: RECAP OUR LIVE Q & A FROM TULLAMARINE

CRYSTAL BALL: EXPERTS GIVE THEIR PREDICTIONS FOR AFLW02

Dyson Heppell has been training the house down, but we won’t see him play AFLX. Picture: Getty Images

“You want the competitive side of players coming out,” Zaharakis said.

“Today was great example of players getting around ‘Junior’ (Zach Merrett).”

A skirmish broke out early in the session when high-profile Bombers, including Cale Hooker, Jake Stringer and Devon Smith, stepped in to protect Merrett.

Bomber David Zaharakis named #AFLX captain, while @EssendonFC assistant Hayden Skipworth will coach the 10-man format. @superfooty pic.twitter.com/tTbcXvN14P

— Gilbert Gardiner (@gilbertgardiner) February 2, 2018

But Zaharakis, who copped a black eye and sizeable scratch on the forehead, said the spot fires are confined to the training track.

“Once you walk off the track it is forgotten about,” Zaharakis said.

“We are all teammates here and we’re trying to get each other better.

“That’s what good clubs do … that’s what makes them so competitive and so great in games.

“You’ve actually got someone here really trying to stop you — it’s not just a drill, you’re actually trying to stop them getting a goal or getting a possession on you.”

Joe Daniher has also been ruled out of AFLX. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Zaharakis credited Essendon midfield coach Hayden Skipworth for ordering the regular tagging sessions, designed to steel and upskill the Bomber ball winners.

“We’re encouraging the guys to get into them (Merrett and Heppell) like it’s a final, and obviously the teammates are looking after them as well,” Skipworth said.

“There’s been a few niggles which has been good, certainly looking like a game at the moment, and for a preseason it’s looking more and more like an in-season game.”

Newly appointed Essendon AFLX coach Skipworth yesterday revealed Merrett, Heppell and Daniher would miss upcoming AFLX games due to “interrupted” preseasons.

But Skipworth was adamant the Bombers will take the hi-octane 10-man format seriously.

“This time of year you don’t get to train against an opposition team, we see it as a great opportunity … to practice what we have been teaching, against an opposition that doesn’t know what you’re trying to achieve.”

With big men Daniher, Tom Bellchambers and Matthew Leuenberger also ruled out, livewires Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Adam Saad, Orazio Fantasia and Darcy Parish will spearhead the Bombers’ AFLX campaign.

Essendon will play AFLX games against Hawthorn and St Kilda on February 16.