The big man reinforcements have arrived at Essendon with the extra options set to provide Coach John Worsfold with an array of aerial weapons.
Tom Bellchambers will finally get the chance to play alongside Matthew Leuenberger, who carried the majority of the ruck load in 2016.
“I’m really excited to work with ‘Leuy’ and to have ‘Russian’ (Mark Jamar) on board as ruck coach is going to be really great for me,” Bellchambers said.
“To form that good duo with Luey is something I’m looking forward to.”
Throughout his career Bellchambers has also shown he can be a threat inside the forward 50.
He booted 28 goals in 2013 and could be used alongside a combination of best and fairest runner-up Joe Daniher, former Giant James Stewart and Cale Hooker – if the coaching staff decides to send the All-Australian defender into attack.
“Hooksy and I have lived together for about five or six years now and we’ve always joked about having that chemistry up forward,” Bellchambers said.
“Hopefully this year we’ll spend a bit of time up there together, it’ll be good fun.”
A round one return next year would bring an end to a 21-month spell on the sidelines for Bellchambers.
The ruckman spent the second half of the 2015 season on the injury list with a stress fracture in his foot.
Ankle surgery also delayed his start to his 2014 campaign.
But the Tasmanian native is fully fit and looking forward to resuming his career with the Bombers.
“It’s very exciting to be back, obviously ten months off allowed me to do a few things that I wanted to do in that time,” he said.
“Now that I’m back at the Club I couldn’t be more excited.
“I was able to give myself a bit of a break and the body responded well.
“It’s been a long ten months and even previous to that I missed half of 2015 with a stress fracture in my foot so it has been a while since I’ve played a game of football.
“To get back out there will be something I’m really looking forward to.
“My body feels really good at the moment and I’m looking forward to having a really good couple of months before Christmas.”