Essendon veteran Cale Hooker says his move to a permanent forward has reinvigorated his career, with the 32-year-old revealing his desire to play beyond 2021.
Hooker, who will be out of contract at season’s end, has produced a sensational first half of the season, booting 26 goals from 11 games to sit 10th in the Coleman Medal standings.
He’s been integral to a revamped Bombers attack which has rocketed to third for points scored from 14th last season, with small forward Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti in career-best form, Jake Stringer averaging two goals a game and new faces Harrison Jones, Peter Wright and Alec Waterman adding extra firepower.
Having been used as a swingman in recent seasons, Hooker said he was reaping the rewards of settling in one position.
“I’ve found this year being a full-time forward and being able to train as a forward, I feel like I’ve improved a lot since the start of the season having that consistency in one spot,” Hooker told ABC Sport.
“When you go back and forward, some of that stuff can get lost. I’ve been loving having that consistency with the same sort of players around in midfield and getting that connection.
“I’m certainly loving the forward line. I’ve got a new lease of life up there. Having guys like Stringer and McDonald-Tipungwuti around me, I just love it. I certainly sleep easier the night before as a forward knowing that I’m going to have the chance to kick some goals and not have a bag kicked on me.”
Despite fielding one of the youngest lists this season, Essendon sits just one win outside the eight after three successive wins and becoming the first side to topple West Coast at Optus Stadium.
As the Bombers’ oldest player, Hooker said he was feeding off the energy from his younger teammates, working closely with second-year key forward Jones in particular.
He said the Bombers’ talented youth boded well for a successful future; one he wanted to be a part of.
“I’d love to (play next year). The way we’re going at the moment, it’s so much fun. We’ve got this young group and you can see the direction we’re heading. I’ll certainly be trying to hang around as long as I can,” Hooker said.
“They’re (youngsters) just buzzing with energy. They make the odd mistake, but they keep going and keep having a crack. I’m sure the Essendon supporters can see what they’re bringing.
“The most exciting thing is the brand we’re playing and the development of our game-plan and systems. It’s starting to stack up against really good teams like West Coast. We just need to keep testing it out and see where it takes us. There’s no ceiling on where it can take us over the next year or two.”
Hooker will remain in his native Western Australia this week, with Essendon set to play its second consecutive game at Optus Stadium when it faces Richmond in the relocated Dreamtime blockbuster on Saturday night.
Hooker said the Bombers had adapted quickly to the changing landscape following Victoria’s latest COVID-19 outbreak.
“We learned a few things from the hub last year,” he said.
“The first day (in Perth last week) we got tested, and we were all in our rooms for 24 hours until we got our results. After that we kept it pretty normal. We trained at Optus Stadium and went out for dinner as a team. It was a good chance for team bonding and to relax a little bit.
“The legs were feeling pretty good by game day. This week we’ll do a normal training week, but we’ll be living in Perth and have a little bit of flexibility about what we can do.”
