John Worsfold has been Essendon’s senior Coach for more than 400 days.

Travis Colyer has been a listed player that entire time, but it’s only in the last fortnight he’s had a chance to train under the premiership winning Coach for the first time. 

When Worsfold commenced his new role last year, Colyer was recovering from a foot injury that ended his 2015 campaign.

Just as the midfielder was about to return to the training track, the Court of Arbitration for Sport handed down its verdict.

Fast-forward 11 months and Colyer is back at the Club he’s represented 57 times and getting his first taste of training under the gaze of Worsfold.

“It has been exciting, I’m really enjoying it,” Colyer said.

“It was a long time coming for me in terms of actual pre-season training because I was injured last year.

“So this is my first time of actually being able to train under ‘Woosha’ as Senior Coach and with the new draftees from last year.

“He (Worsfold) is a really driven and focused guy.  He knows what he wants to get out of each session and I’m really embracing and enjoying his approach to training and our collective approach as a team.

“I think it’s something that’s going to hold us in good stead leading into Christmas and then into games.

“It’s all new, it’s fresh and it’s exciting.”

Colyer was one of Essendon’s best attacking weapons throughout 2015 with his burst of speed leading to late goals in the wins against Hawthorn and St Kilda.

But after 11 straight games, a foot stress fracture and the discovery of a ‘hot navicular’ ended his campaign. 

The Club’s cautious approach is now reaping the rewards with Colyer moving freely.

“When the decision was handed down in January I was just about to come back into full training,” he said.

“It’s got to a point now where it’s not even a thought in my mind.

“It was a pretty serious injury when I did it and you’ve really got to get on top of it, so I feel pretty comfortable and confident in my body that it’s not a concern anymore.”

In Colyer’s absence throughout 2016, the Bombers turned to Orazio Fantasia and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti to provide the pace.

The inexperienced pair finished in the top ten in the best and fairest count and established themselves in the Bombers ‘best 22’.

“I was disappointed I couldn’t be there with them,” Colyer said.

“I want to be pushing them this pre-season but I’ve got a lot to learn from them about how they went about it. 

“It changed my perspective on what you can do and how you can use your strengths against the opposition.” 

After playing 34 games across his first four seasons, Colyer strung 23 straight games together between the second half of 2014 and the first half of 2015.

He chose not to watch much footy at the start of 2016, but as the finals neared he looked on more closely and was taken by how even the competition was. 

Now he’s free to compete against the AFL’s best and the thrill of victory remains a driving force.

“For me the best time is that five or ten minutes in the change rooms with the boys after a win – we’re privileged that we can do it,” Colyer said. 

“That’s one thing I’m looking forward to.”