Attending a PUMA mosquito clinic today, twenty-three year old Jobe Watson told media that the number of recent big-name signings - including Scott Lucas, Dustin Flecther and David Hille - showed the faith the players had in the future of this Essendon squad.

Watson, too, recently signed a two-year deal taking him until the end of the 2010 season.

“It’s great to be given the opportunity to stay for another two years - I think we are heading in an upward direction and I am thrilled to be part of it,” Watson said.

“It’s always nice to sign up and obviously the last few weeks have been very exciting around the club so hopefully the success isn’t too far away and it’s great to see a couple of other older guys have signed up as well.

“I think the younger guys have guys really sparked the place and the older guys can see some success not too far away.

“It’s a much happy place to be around when you are winning and I think guys are starting to play better as a side and that is all Knighta and the coaching staff want is for everyone to contribute together and we have been able to do that.

“We have put ourselves in situations (in the last month) where we can win games and when you do that you make your own luck.”

Watson said the break has come at a good time and allows the team to rest sore bodies despite interrupting its run of wins.

“The focus now moves to the last third of the year,” he said.

“A lot of the younger guys have missed a bit of footy this year so they should be raring to go for the rest of the season.”

 
Asked where the team’s improved defensive effort had come from in recent weeks, Watson said the coaching staff had put a big emphasis on getting back to the basics of playing especially one-on-one pressure, then attack.
 
“They didn’t change the ethos of what they are trying to preach, it was mainly just that there are the basic things that we are not doing well and they will help us win games and, since we have been able to concentrate on those basics, we have been a lot more competitive,” he said.

“When you have all 22 guys doing something it is much easier than having a few guys carry the whole load. I think we are starting to play well as a team and the younger guys appreciate more game time and the more games they get the better they become.”