Essendon young star Nick Cox has explained why the Bombers have begun official pre-season training earlier than their competition.
The Bombers first-to-fourth year players returned to the club in an official capacity today, with most clubs expected to begin training in the coming weeks.
Speaking to the media after the first training session of the season, Cox said that it was always part of the program for the players to return at this time.
"It's just part of our program," Cox said.
"We wanted to get back to training as soon as we can as we look to build into a great season next year.
"It was set in stone from the moment we left. We said we want to get back into its soon as we can, there's still that fire in the belly from that final that we lost. We want to build into a really good season next year and we think this is the way to do it."
Cox said he was excited to be entering his first proper pre-season in the AFL system after spending part of last year waiting for his name to be called out on draft night.
"I was running around an athletics track three times a week," Cox said.
"So it's a bit of a change. It'll be good to get into a whole AFL environment for the whole pre-season and build my body to try and diversify some of my roles."
2021 was a year spent learning many crafts for cox, who was deployed in multiple positions on the ground. His height and mobility make him a very flexible option for Ben Rutten.
However, Cox found himself in and out of the team for the second half of the season and is keen to avoid a similar drop off this time around.
"I don't want to fall off like I did (last year)," Cox stated.
"I feel like I was getting a bit tired towards the end of the year, especially having no footy the year before. I felt like I was getting a bit tired, but I think that's what's good about having a full pre-season is being able to build my body."
New part-time development coach Alex Rance was at training today and was very vocal on the track.
Cox said it was awesome to meet the Richmond premiership star and that he was excited to learn off one of the best defenders of the modern game.
"He's awesome, it was great to meet him today," Cox told media.
"Obviously, an incredible player during his career and it was great to have him on the track, he's a great voice. He's so experienced and has a lot to pass down to us young fellas."
Cox was asked whether everyone at the Bombers was fully vaccinated and said that as far as he knew they were, but was unable to confirm.
"From as far as I know, I think they are," Cox stated.
"I know I'm double vaxxed and it's not my place to comment, I don't really know the information but I think so."
"It was obvious for me that it was the best thing to do, not just to protect myself and my teammates, but also my family, friends, anyone."
Essendon footy manager Josh Mahoney said recently that the players would be returning early but on a part-time basis a bit earlier than usual.
โIn anticipation of a unique off-season for our players where their movement was going to be limited, we proposed a program pre-Christmas that involves our players coming back earlier but on a part-time basis," Mahoney said.
"We believe the proposed structure is the best outcome to allow players and staff the ability to enjoy the eased restrictions in Victoria with their allotted days off and ensure that we're able to get the appropriate training in pre-Christmas."
