Track watch: McGrath, Bombers draw inspiration from Tom Brady as pre-season heats up

Essendon vice-captain Andy McGrath says his club is drawing inspiration from one of sport’s greatest figures, as the Bombers’ pre-season gains steam ahead of a hopeful 2024 season.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 30 2024 Jake Stringer and Zach Merrett at Essendon pre-season training at the Hanger. Picture: Brendan Beckett

Essendon vice-captain Andy McGrath says the club’s “whole water level” is rising as the Bombers draw inspiration from legendary NFL quarterback Tom Brady.

McGrath and Essendon captain Zach Merrett both briefly met Brady during his fleeting visit to Melbourne last weekend, where he hosted a speaking event on his time in the sport, motivation and leadership.

McGrath said the talk from the seven-time Super Bowl champion helped reinforce to him that Essendon was on the right track as it seeks to return to finals football this year.

Andrew McGrath is high on the hopes at the Bombers. Picture: Brendan Beckett

“I think it’s just evidence that it doesn’t matter how great you are, the system and the process to getting there is the same,” McGrath said of his key takeaways from Brady’s talk.

“It involves hard work, it involves getting better every day and competing with yourself. He was really big on that and not comparing himself to anyone else.

“Zach and I both took heaps from that about really taking the whole program in his stride and adopting a professional lifestyle 24/7.”

McGrath, 25, said this pre-season felt different to previous summer campaigns.

“I think a bit more intentional,” he said.

“The whole playing group wants the same thing, we’re very aligned to becoming a better team than we were last year.

“I think that’s the goal every pre-season, but we’ve put certain things in place to make that a reality now and I feel like our training level’s lifting, our stuff away from the football club’s lifting, our whole water level’s rising together.

“It’s all talk now and we want to show it on the field, but I’m optimistic about what we can do.”

ake Stringer and Essendon skipper Zach Merrett at pre-season training. Picture: Brendan Beckett

DRAPER GETTING BACK AMONGST IT

Ruckman Sam Draper is integrating back into main training as he continues his recovery from post-season groin surgery.

The 25-year-old got involved in some drills during Tuesday morning’s session at Tullamarine, after completing a strong running block following the Christmas break.

However, he did his own work during the match simulation, leaving Todd Goldstein and Nick Bryan to battle it out in the middle.

North Melbourne recruit Goldstein has impressed his new teammates on the track – at the ripe old age of 35.

One Essendon supporter watching on remarked that Goldstein was moving like he was still 22.

“I often marvel at how long he’s been playing for,” McGrath said of Goldstein.

“I was a little kid watching him dominate the league and now to be playing with him and be able to learn off a guy with that experience is amazing. He’s still doing it to an elite level. I can’t believe it.”

Sam Draper is slowly making his return. Picture: Brendan Beckett

REID ALL ABOUT IT

Excitement is growing around about the impact that young key defender Zach Reid could have this season if he can finally enjoy some luck with his body.

The 202cm tall managed just two VFL games last year due to a wretched run with injury and has featured in just eight AFL games in three years since being selected at pick 10 in the 2020 national draft.

However, Reid was alongside Ben McKay in what looked close to a first-choice back-six during match simulation for the stronger team on Tuesday.

“He’s had a really great pre-season, he’s connecting really well with guys like Benny McKay on the last line of defence,” McGrath said of Reid.

“I’ve no idea what to expect, but I’m super excited by what’s to come. I feel like he’s growing every day, he towers over all of us back there, but he’s got great skills, great game sense and hopefully we see him a lot this year.”

NEW ROLES?

After an impressive 2023 season on a wing, Sam Durham split his time between onball and half-forward roles during the Bombers’ match simulation.

Durham was in the thick of the action for multiple centre bounces.

The 22-year-old did not attend any centre bounces during his 22 matches last season as he averaged 16.5 disposals and 4.9 marks in the outside role.

Jake Kelly was instead on a wing and trained with the midfield group during drills, after being a mainstay in the defensive group last year.

Rebounding defender Nick Hind also looks in line for a role switch, having spent significant time training forward across pre-season.

Hind got on the end of a goal playing as a small forward for the weaker red team during match simulation.

Jake Kelly could be in line for a new role. Picture: Brendan Beckett

CREATING A DOUR DEFENCE

The Bombers still look like they want to move the ball quickly off halfback, but a key focus of the summer has been how they can create a more dour defence.

Essendon ranked fourth-last for scores against last season – conceding an average of 89 points a game – and opposition sides found it far too easy to move the ball against Brad Scott’s side at stages.

“It’s no coincidence the top few teams on the ladder are all really good in that area,” McGrath said.

“We were sort of towards the bottom of stopping teams moving the ball forward. So it’s an area that we need to address. It’s a whole field thing. It starts with our forwards, moves into our midfields, and then our backs have to complement that. So we’re doing a lot of work on that at the moment and getting our system right.”

Ben McKay has come to hopefully help create a more stout backline at the Bombers. Picture: Brendan Beckett

ON THE COMEBACK TRAIL

Essendon’s injury list is quickly shrinking in good signs just over three weeks out from its first practice match against St Kilda.

Dylan Shiel, Jordan Ridley and Tex Wanganeen were the only players to spend Tuesday’s entire session training away from the main group.

Shiel is gradually building up his running after having foot surgery in October, while Wanganeen is working his way back after post-season surgery on a navicular injury and Ridley remains on light duties after copping a recent knock.

Forwards Jake Stringer and Peter Wright both completed much of the main session but also did some other work separately.

Originally published as Track watch: McGrath, Bombers draw inspiration from Tom Brady as pre-season heats up