He’s had to be patient for his opportunity but now he’s in the side, Jonathan Giles is keen to make the final part of the season count.

Giles has spent most of the year in the VFL with Tom Bellchambers and then Shaun McKernan leading the Essendon ruck division.

“I would have loved to have played a few more games earlier in the year,” Giles told SEN.

“I’ve got my opportunity now so I was pretty excited to play last week and then obviously this week to get over to Sydney and play the old mob.”

Giles played 51 games with the Giants across three seasons after initially being drafted by Port Adelaide.

The ruckman joined the Bombers at the end of last season in exchange for pick 53.

Despite the injury to Bellchambers, Giles remained in the VFL. 

“Talking to ‘Hirdy’ over the season, he was happy with my ruck work and my stuff around the ground and up forward,” Giles said.

“He just wanted more out of my follow up and second efforts and tackling.

“I worked pretty hard at training and lots of extras, studying a few other ruckmen that are pretty good in (Shane) Mumford.

“That’s what I’ve got to do, compete in the ruck and keep my spot.”

Giles said the Bombers were able to learn a lot from the loss to the Western Bulldogs with extra time spent this week on improving the ball movement out of stoppages.

“We obviously had our normal review and we went through some things that we need to improve on,” Giles said. 

“A lot of that was to do with the contest work and stoppage work and then the ball movement from there.”

Despite the Bombers being out of finals contention Giles said the mood around the club remains positive.

“It’s definitely challenging when you have those losses like on the weekend,” he said.

“We find it hard when those losses happen but it’s a very good environment to be around.”