Heath Hocking says the Essendon midfield will be looking to improve its output in 2016.
Injuries to key players throughout 2015 saw the team struggle to have an impact around stoppages and centre bounces.
With the likes of Jobe Watson, David Myers, Heath Hocking, David Zaharakis and number one ruckman Tom Bellchambers all impacted by injury throughout the year, the team struggled when it came to winning the ball from the centre and from stoppages around the ground.
The task was made even harder after the team lost Paddy Ryder to Port Adelaide.
All these factors saw Essendon slip from 6th in the league for centre clearances in 2014 to 15th in 2015.
However, with the midfield group about to round out the first half of the pre-season, and the addition of Matthew Leuenberger, veteran midfielder Heath Hocking is confident the team can improve dramatically in 2016.
“We sat down – me, Myersy and Jobe and realised that we didn’t even play a game together,” Hocking said.
“Getting Matty Leuenberger to help Tommy Bell out is going to be crucial to getting back our centre square clearances which will help our game.
“We were very good at it and then dropped away last year.
“It’s massively crucial.”
The team will also benefit from the additional experience new line coach Guy McKenna and senior coach John Worsfold bring to the Club.
Both coaches have been quick to make their mark on the team, bringing with them a new approach to the pre-season that will hopefully flow over into the 2016 season.
Hocking and the rest of the team are well aware that they underperformed in 2015 and are excited by the new opportunities that 2016 holds.
“You’re bringing in Woosha, we got a lot of really good draft picks and we got Guy McKenna as well in the midfield – he’s added a lot to it,” Hocking said.
“It does have that fresh start feel to it.
“Woosha’s got a plan and he wants us to just get better and improve in all those areas. You win a handful of games you’re obviously not doing too much right, so I guess we’ll work hard and everyone being leaders on the field and leaders at training and just picking up those standards.”
