Essendon's young core of players are being urged to lead from the front in the club's return to pre-season training.
With their first week of sessions in the books, the Bombers' first-to-fourth year players have been joined by a large contingent of senior players back in action early, but Assistant Coach Daniel Giansiracusa is hoping the side's youngsters can equally drive the standard during their pre-Christmas block.
Giansiracusa chatted to essendonfc.com.au recapping the first official week back at the NEC Hangar.
'We're looking for others to step up'
"There’s real onus and a responsibility on the players to come back in pretty good nick, Brad was very clear with the players when they left.
"They do get a long break, it’s 12 weeks in the end – when I was playing, it used to be that you’d run for four weeks then the skills would start but now we’re right into it straight away. With the whole group, we’ve only got three weeks, (so it’s) a great chance for the first-to-fourth year players to really get a head start and they’ve attacked it really well.
"They’re smart, those older guys. As I said, it’s only a short time and it’s a lot more difficult kicking the footy by yourself rather than with a group, so it’s great to see them around and it’s good leadership. We still encourage those first-to-fourth year players to own the group and bring their voice out.
"It’ll almost be like the whole group is back next week and officially the week after, those guys and their leadership’s important to that but we’re looking for others to step up also."
Cam Roberts' new role as Assistant Coach
"It's a good shift and opportunity for ‘Robbo’.
"He’ll lean on ‘Tapps’ (Dale Tapping) who’s taking over the VFL role and will be great at that.
"It just stimulates everyone around the footy club, someone new, new voice, he’ll work with that group of forwards to get the outcomes we’re looking for."
'We're pretty clear with what we need to work on'
"The boys have come back in pretty good nick. We’ve hit the ground running with a lot of skills and footy, competitive stuff, so they’ve acquitted themselves pretty well.
"We had about two weeks post our season ending where we assessed ourselves in terms of the coaching group, the players, stats, all that sort of stuff. Slowly, as you break and get closer to coming back, you assess where we think we can make our gains.
"It’s good to refresh, obviously looking at the finals teams, but we’re pretty clear with what we need to work on and we think that with a healthy list we’ll be able to make those improvements we’re looking for.
"Especially with us having Opening Round, it’s going to come around pretty quick, the games. Lot of footy, lot of education on how we want to make those improvements we spoke about.
