The 201cm ruckman impressed coach Matthew Knights with his versatility during the match – setting the standard both up forward and in the ruck – and could be available for Round 1 of the home and away season despite having been ruled out for the NAB Cup.

Click here to see the Knights media conference or behind-the-scenes images from the match.

""It was really pleasing to see David get through the entire game,"" Knights said.

""It certainly gives us hope that he will be ready for Round 1. He has certainly cleared all the hurdles up to this point and if he keeps going down this track, we are pretty confident he will line up for Round 1.

""He is a leader of this football club and he has a really strong body which is really important against the really strong sides in this competition. I have got a fair bit of joy out of seeing him play today and seeing him kick that initial goal made the trip up the highway well worth it.""

Solid pre-season training from a number of key senior players has also impressed Knights and has added some depth to the Bombers’ young midfield.

""We are starting to get a few guys in there who are in the mature age bracket to lend some experience,"" Knights said.

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""It was great to see Mark McVeigh running around in there at 4 -6 kilograms lighter than he was last year and he is injury free.

""It is also good to see Andrew Welsh and Brent Prismall back in there and we are certainly looking to get more from the collective group rather than three or four runners.""