Essendon’s investment into its new training base proves to the competition the club wants to be the most powerful in the competition according to Neil Craig.

The newly appointed Head of Coaching Development and Strategy said the True Value Solar Centre ranks among the best training facilities in the world.

“It is world class and certainly the best facility in Australia in terms of team sports,” Craig said.

“Inside you have an unbelievable indoor training facility where you can do some serious footy work.

“There is a recovery centre, the pools, the weight training area and the layout of the whole facility is just really good.”

Craig said it was important for everyone within the club to understand the facility needs to be used in the correct way for the team to gain maximum benefit from it.

“The facility doesn’t do the job for players, you still have to have good people and good coaches,” he said.

“What it does do is it certainly sends a very clear message to the rest of the competition about what Essendon is about.”

“It sends a really clear message that Essendon are getting on with footy and wanting to be the most powerful club in the competition.”

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Speaking at the club’s Christmas open training session the former Melbourne and Adelaide senior coach said supporters should be excited by what they see at the True Value Solar Centre.

“It is a fantastic facility for our supporters to come down, have a look at and feel proud of the facility and what Essendon has been able to provide,” he said.

“Mark Thompson is really keen to involve the supporters as much as we can to make it an inclusive club, to feel part of it and that is why our open trainings are really important for our supporter group.”

Craig said he had enjoyed his first few months working at the Bombers and was impressed with the direction from Thompson and Chairman Paul Little.

“The other thing I like about Essendon is that they are not in denial. Paul Little has put his hand up and said as a club we have made some errors.”

“It is now our responsibility to rebuild the trust and respect among the competition. Once you put your hand up and accept responsibility then you have a really good chance.

“I know Mark Thompson is also very keen to rebuild the respect that we need to as a football club.

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