One of Essendon's most successful pick ups in 2016, former Cat James Kelly says he's enjoying a full pre-season with a keen list of younger players
The triple premiership player was picked up by the Bombers 12 months ago as a top-up player and told the club's website he'd expected to break down during the year.
Instead he managed a stunning 20 games and was a runner up in the Crichton Medal, tying with key forward Joe Daniher.
"I was expecting to break down at some stage, I'd sort of factored that into my preparation for the year and fortunately I didn't," Kelly told essendonfc.com.au. "I felt I worked hard on it throughout the year ... to manage my loads really well. I was really thankful I got through the season the way I did."
Kelly said the return of the other senior players combined with the new boys made the club an enjoyable place to be.
"Everyone is training and more numbers on the track makes training easier and more fun. If anything there is just more voices around the place, I still try to talk and contribute wherever I can but this year with the guys coming back there is just more people talking which is great for the group.
"The guys that sort of grew up a bit last year with the senior players missing are still there as well, so we've got this really good spread of players who are contributing.
"There [are] always conversations after every drill and every meeting about how we want to play and the way we want to play which is fantastic for the group."
Of the younger players, Kelly believes there's some bright talent coming through.
"They're all really good kids, they're all sponges, they're eager to learn, they're eager to be out on the track," he said. "It can be hard for a first year player because you don't really train a lot early in your career and you just want to get out there and earn your stripes but they're getting held back.
"A few of them are getting a bit grumpy with that, which I think is a good sign – they want to be out there training and playing with the boys."