Essendon midfielder David Myers has taken a further step towards lining up in the Bombers season opener against North Melbourne with impressive games in Saturday’s VFL practice match.
In their first hit out of the pre-season Myers and senior teammates Jake Melksham played three quarters and looked at ease against a young Williamstown side.
Coach Hayden Skipworth said the experience provided by Melksham and Myers was evident.
“I was rapt with the attitude of both of them when they came back, they fitted into the team straight away,” Skipworth said.
“They set a high standard and most importantly they got through the game without an injury.”
The team ran out comfortable 23-point winners against Williamstown in their first match of the VFL pre-season.
“I said to the guys after the game I was rapt with the performance, during the second quarter we went away from our game plan but other then that it was a good hit out,” Skipworth said.
“To the maturity of the team they regained ascendency in the second half and played the game on our terms.”
“Most of the guys didn’t know each other before the game so to bring both squads together for the first time and perform like that I was very happy.”
Alternative talent rookie Johnny Rayner lined up for his first game of football in three years and could not have impressed the coach any more.
“For a guy that hasn’t played football in about 3 years Johnny played a great game today,” Skipworth said.
“His hardness was a real feature as well as his running so if he can put in performances like that for us each week we will be very happy.”
“I thought Nick O’Brien and Dylan Van Unen were two of our most consistent guys across the four quarters as well today.”
“Dylan took a lot of intercept marks across half back and Nick outnumbered his opponents around the footy.”
Essendon’s next VFL practice match is against Collingwood at Victoria Park on March 15.
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