Exciting Essendon youngster Aaron Francis says he’ll be looking to improve his fitness over the pre-season.
The number six draft pick has inked a new deal that will see him remain at the Bombers until at least the end of 2019.
“It feels very good to finally get it out of the way so I can focus on football for the next three years,” Francis said.
“I’ve spent a lot of time in Adrian’s (Dodoro – List and Recruiting Manager) office, so he’s been good to me.
“I love the Bombers, my family loves the Bombers.”
After a calf injury delayed his start to the season, Francis found form in the VFL before a call-up to the seniors in round 18 against Brisbane.
“It has been a bit up and down. I obviously had injury niggles at the start of the year and towards the end of the year,” Francis said.
“But I got three games in the AFL senior side so that made myself aware of where I need to be and I guess where other players are at.
“I felt like the VFL finals was another good stepping stone to where I want to be.
“Everyone knows my fitness levels isn’t where it should be, or where it’s required to be at AFL level and I found that out playing my three games.
“That’s my biggest area of focus and I’ll try to do everything possible to get myself fit.”
Throughout the season Francis played in both defence and attack.
He said he doesn’t really have a preference at this stage of his career.
The 19 year old will return home to Loxton in country South Australia during his off-season.
“I’ll spend probably two weeks there with family and friends,” he said.
“I’ll do a little bit of training there too and then I’ll fly back over here to Melbourne and then really get stuck into it.”
Francis will be joined on the track by some seasoned stars who will be permitted to return to the Club from tomorrow.
“Even that makes you a little bit more motivated to get stuck into training because I know they will be,” he said.
“The young boys are really keen to get stuck into pre-season and even in the off-season work hard to get better and better.”
