Essendon’s suspended players will be ready to launch back into the pre-season when they return to the Club. 

The banned players have trained intermittently throughout their suspension and have worked hard to maintain their fitness.

Speaking to Bomber Radio, Coach John Worsfold revealed the focus of the fitness and conditioning coaches had now turned towards building out a plan for the remainder of the off-season.

The plan will put the players in the best position to enter the pre-season at a level that will allow them to slot back in as seamlessly as possible.

“We’ve had a few chats with those guys with what their plans were through September, October and what they thought would be the best way to get them back and ready to go,” Worsfold said.

“At the moment, they’ll continue on with their normal training program that they’ve been doing through the year.

“We’ll have a bit of downtime in October, but just do their own program so it’ll be more of an individual focus and then 7^th of November, they’re back in ready to go.”

After a year away from the game, the boys are also as physically healthy as they have been in recent times.

It has also allowed them the time to treat a few niggling injuries that they had accrued over the past few years.

“Dyson had a small foot issue fixed up throughout his time off, which he was able to deal with, but they thought – while he’s got some downtime lets completely clear it up,” Worsfold said.

“A couple of the other boys were going to be coming back off shoulder reconstructions, Jobe and Hurls – so they’re good.

“Tommy Bellchambers said that he is running pain free for the first time that he can remember, so he’s really enjoying his fitness program because it’s pain free."