Despite a quiet outing in Essendon's opening preseason clash with Richmond, Essendon midfielder David Myers has said Jake Stringer has impressed everyone in his first few months at the club.
After much was made of Essendon's pursuit of the wayward Bulldog, Myers told SEN Breakfast that Stringer hadn't put a foot wrong in his time in the red and black.
“We have been rapt with the way he has gone about it thus far in the preseason,” he told SEN Breakfast.
“He has done everything we have asked him to do and he knows he still has a fair bit of work to do, but he is delivering on everything we have asked him to do and what he has committed to doing so far, so you can’t fault Jake.”
After copping an 87-point hiding at the hands of the reigning premiers, Myers added that the players were too conscious of the game plan and failed to let instinct take over in certain moments.
“We have been able to narrow down what exactly we are trying to do,” he said.
“It is about guys less worrying about that and trying to play on instinct a bit more.
“You do train your structures and how you want to move the ball and how you want to defend to a large degree across the preseason.
“It is also for the guys to remember to play the game and react naturally, because we all bring different things and we are in the system because we can play.
“That has been the focus, to remind guys not to get too stressed out there and play footy.”
Essendon take on Geelong on Sunday in Colac in their final preseason hitout.