We’ve done plenty of recruiting this pre-season and all our players are tracking well.

But which of them are looking extra sharp ahead of our first NAB Challenge game? 

Here are a few of the best things we noticed from Friday’s intra-club game. 

1. James Kelly:
The former Cat was a standout in Friday’s game. His class, maturity and ability to read the play was at at elite level.  He spent most of the match playing off the half-back line. He wasn’t rushed with his disposal, working well on the outside of the contest to direct traffic and clear the ball with great efficiency. Kelly looks to be at a good fitness level and was able to run out the whole game.

2. Ryan Crowley:
Crowley was unlucky not to make it into our top five players (overall) from last week as he definitely put his best foot forward during the game. In line with what Coach John Worsfold has been saying over the last few weeks, Crowley was not just used as a midfielder for the intra-club battle. In fact, he seemed to hit his stride when he moved into the forward line – looking at home across half-forward. Crowley worked well in tandem with Joe Daniher, with the two helping each other create space. The ex-Docker finished with two goals before he was shifted into the midfield to take up his usual role.

3. Mathew Stokes:
Playing as a small forward, Stokes started off slowly before really hitting his stride in the second half. He was crafty, speedy and had a great awareness around the goals finishing with two majors for the day. He didn’t seem to have lost the touch which saw him kick more than 200 goals for the Cats and could provide the Bombers with the small forward option they have missed over the last few years. Stokes will continue to build his fitness and, although he is unlikely to play in the first NAB Challenge match, we are looking forward to him getting out on the field.

4. Jonathan Simpkin:
The first thing that was obvious about Simpkin’s game was his awareness around the contest. Simpkin seemed to have great knowledge of where all of his teammates were placed, allowing him to feed the ball out to them quickly and with great accuracy. This was crucial in winning the clearance around the stoppage. His experience and knowledge will be essential to helping the development of his younger teammates. His positioning around the stoppage also saw him able to collect the ball directly from the ruckman, rather than having to fight for the ball at a ground level. His fitness doesn’t seem to be an issue and the ex-Hawk ran out the entire game. 

5. Matt Dea:
Dea had a serviceable game in defence and kept up well with the pace of the game. Coming off a best and fairest with Richmond’s VFL side, the defender’s fitness is not a question and he has quickly been able to adapt and learn to the way that Essendon play out of the backline. Dea was calm under pressure and did not rush his decisions when moving the ball. 

6. Sam Grimley:
The ex-Hawk showed signs of his goal kicking ability working well in partnership with Joe Daniher in the forward line. Well held by Aaron Francis in the first half, Grimley worked hard to get into the game and finished with three goals. He proved to be a good target deep in the forward line able to break free from his man. Grimley was also rotated through the ruck position.

7. James Polkinghorne:
Polkinghorne showed the benefits of having been involved with Essendon VFL last season, looking the most natural out of all the new recruits when executing the game plan. Polkinghorne was played around the midfield area showing a strong ability to win the ball. Hard around the contest, the 27-year-old was not afraid to get to the bottom of the pack. He also spent a little bit of time playing across the half-forward line which may indicate how Worsfold intends to use the ex-Lion during the season.

Mark Jamar and Nathan Grima were the only notable exclusions from the intra-club, with the Club not willing to rush their preparation. They will both be aiming for a round one debut.