Essendon midfielder David Zaharakis believes the current playing group is the fittest he has seen over his six seasons in the red and black.

The players are a week into their post Christmas block of pre-season training as they begin to prepare for NAB Challenge matches in just over one month’s time.

Majority of the group recorded personal best times in last week’s 2km time trial in an impressive showing from the developing playing list

“Guys can actually do it now because of their fitness levels,” Zaharakis said.

“Whether it is weights, training or running the guys are at a new level now so we can push ourselves even harder.”

“I think in my six years at the football club it has been the best and biggest improvement which is great to see from the whole group.”

It is the third pre-season in charge for High Performance Manager Justin Crow who took the reigns at the end of the 2012 season.

Zaharakis said the high performance staff had done a good job to gradual improve the fitness levels of the entire playing group.

“The fitness guys have been with us for the last three or so years and we have been building a solid base as a group,” he said.

“Our pre-season training and mode has been similar again this year, with a focus on building and improving on the last couple of years.

“Our training has gone to a new level with our fitness levels this year.

“We came back from the Christmas break really fit and it has been great to see everyone enjoying the training on the track.”

The 24-year-old midfielder said the training program over the pre-season had provided a good simulation for game situations.

“I think that is what training is, trying to go beyond what you feel in a game so that once you have been to that spot in your mind and your body you know you can reach it on game day,” he said.

“Training actually takes you further than game day physically and I think that is what we have done so far in this pre-season.”

Fans are encouraged to come and watch the boys in action this pre-season at our Australia Day Open Training session from 9am on January 26.