Five years after first playing at VFL level, Ben Dobson is relishing his second opportunity at the state level with Essendon this season.

Dobson has become a versatile player for the Bombers recently, playing a pivotal role through the midfield but also with the ability to go forward or back.

The 26 year-old debuted for the Bombers in round six after playing six games for Geelong VFL back in 2010.

A cancer diagnosis and 12 months out of the game seemed to have put an end to his time in the VFL. 

“I put a lot of time and effort into footy, but I fell out of love with the game and stopped enjoying it,” Dobson said.

 I figured the best thing for me would be to relocate back home and play with my mates as more a social side of things at Koroit.

“I did that for a few years and then Adam Dowie threw the opportunity to be an assistant coach at me last year and just through small things at training, picking teams and taking drills I found the enjoyment back in footy because I was more involved.”

Koroit went on to win the premiership last season and with Dobson finding his passion for the game again, Essendon gave him an opportunity.  

“Last year I had a pretty good year and ended up making the Vic Country team and I played well at that level,” he said.

“I played on ball, I’ve only ever played midfield in the last 12 months and I saw the opportunity to test myself with some of the better players.

“To be able to work with the coaching group here, the development side was the one thing I set my mind to at the start, just seeing how they train people would be good for my development rather than worrying about myself.”

Dobson has played 10 games this season, starting mainly as a forward and kicked five goals from 10 marks against Box Hill in round 15 before being thrown into the midfield.

Over the last month with Essendon’s resurgence, Dobson has been averaging 20 disposals.

“The first couple of games I thought I was OK up forward, then we had those two off days against Geelong and Casey and I was talking to Ego at training and I said that I do play midfield at local level and I would like to test myself  – it led from there,” he said.

“I’ve learnt so much from different blokes all year, coaches and players, you just pick up things whether its craft, just marking the footy, defending or holding your space on the ground.

“If you had of told me at the start of the year that I would of played this many games for Essendon and be playing finals on ball I would have laughed at the proposal.”

Dobson came up against his former club and his brother Sam in the elimination final last Sunday.

“I tried to sledge him a little bit but he didn’t give me much love, it was the first time I had played against him,” Dobson said.

“Mum and Dad all came down for a trip and it was a great experience playing in front of a big Essendon crowd like that. The atmosphere was am zing.

“It’s a big game this Sunday against Footscray but hopefully we keep playing like we have over the last month.”