A month after taking leave from Essendon to deal with a mental health issue, young Bomber Aaron Francis has returned to training at the club.
The 20-year-old, who was the No.6 pick at the 2015 NAB AFL Draft, remained based in Melbourne during his break away from Essendon.
On Friday he recommenced training with the Bombers, with star teammate Michael Hurley saying the group was pleased to see the flying defender back in red and black.
"It's fantastic. Obviously Aaron's been away from the club for a few weeks now, but to see him back at the club with a big smile on his face is great," Hurley said.
"He's obviously done a lot of work away from the club and he's looking really good."
Hurley said the Bombers had kept in close contact with Francis during his stint away from Tullamarine, with captain Dyson Heppell revealing on Thursday that Francis had taken up some part-time work and coaching local basketball.
"He's looking really well and looking really happy which is fantastic," Hurley said.
"I think they'll just take it step by step and Aaron will work through [his time at the club going forward] with the right people. Hopefully it's full-time, but for him if it's only part-time then so be it."
Francis played five games for the Bombers in his first two seasons with the Bombers, being used mainly as a marking defender. At times he was also trialled in attack and the midfield, where his power and brilliant kicking shone.
A position has opened in Essendon's back half after Martin Gleeson's long-term ankle injury last week, and Hurley, who was an All Australian backman in 2017, said Francis had the ability to step in once his fitness base is back.
"He plays a similar role to Marty as that intercepting defender, so hopefully we can get him back on the track, get him fit again and get him playing some senior footy later on in the year," Hurley said.
The Bombers open their home and away campaign next Friday night against Adelaide at Etihad Stadium.
Star forward Joe Daniher, who won the Bombers' best and fairest last year after kicking a career-high 65 goals, said the club has strong belief about its prospects in 2018.
"As a playing group we've put in a lot of work and we've brought in some guys from different clubs, which has taken a bit of work to gel together. But I'm really excited about what we can deliver as a whole group," he said in launching Deadly Choices, a partnership between the Bombers and Victorian Aboriginal Health Services.
"It's another exciting opportunity to play the Grand Finalists from last year. They've obviously been a super strong club for a long period of time now. As a playing group we want to test ourselves against the best and no better way than to do it in round one."
