It was a successful day out for Matthew Leuenberger as he played his first full game for Essendon VFL on Saturday. 

The big man showed no signs of an injury interrupted pre-season, dominating the game in more ways than one.

Leuenberger played almost the entire game as a ruck with his superior tap work giving the Essendon VFL midfielders first use of the ball on many occasions. 

The ex-Lion was also a big feature around the ground through both his guidance of the younger players and his outstanding efforts. 

His first goal of the day came as a result of a big effort in which Leuenberger chased down and tackled an opposition player to win the free kick and slot the goal.

It are these types of secondary efforts that, according to Matthew Egan, have been a major focus of Leuenberger’s pre-season.

“His ruckwork is always good, but what’s really starting to improve are his hands and movement around the ground,” said Egan 

“He’s starting to take some marks and push forward off his opposition, which is exactly what good ruckman do.

“The great ruckman in the competition can win the hit outs but also have an impact on the outside.”

Leuenberger moved well around the ground for the entire game and showed great awareness of surrounding midfielders, in what Egan sees as a testament to his hard work in his rehabilitation from injury.

“We haven’t seen a lot of him this pre-season, so to get to where he is already is a sign of how hard he works,” said Egan 

“I thought he was outstanding.” 

Leuenberger was one of best on the day finishing with 13 disposals, two contested marks, three uncontested marks, two tackles and a goal.