As new recruit Shaun Edwards settles into his new home the 19-year-old is hopeful a strong pre-season can set him up for a regular senior game in 2014.
                                                                                                           
Edwards arrived at the club for his first day as a Bomber last Wednesday when the first to fourth year players returned to training.

He has enjoyed his first week at the club’s new High Performance Centre taking the opportunity to get to know his new teammates.

“You play footy to play senior footy so the short-term goal is to get to know everyone and get my feel around the club,” Edwards said.

“Obviously I want to be playing a few games and be a part of the Essendon Football Club in the long term.”

“The first week has been pretty good, everyone has been pretty welcoming in terms of all of the staff and players.”

Edwards was in Ireland as part of Australia’s international rules squad during the trade period that saw him move to the Bombers.

When the move to Essendon was mooted in a late night phone call with his manager, Edwards sounded out retired Bomber Nathan Lovett-Murray to find out more about the club.
"I just talked to him about what the club is like, what the players and coaches are like,” he said.

“Straight away he told me it was a great club and I couldn’t say no when the Bombers rang up with an offer to join them.”

The former AIS-AFL academy graduate has been fortunate to have a few familiar faces around during his first week at the club.

“I guess it has made it easier that I am not walking into a completely foreign environment having Kurt (Aylett) along on the ride with me,” Edwards said.

“We have been able to chat over the first week, he is a great bloke and I look forward to growing with him as well.”

Edwards wasted no time getting to know veteran Dustin Fletcher, hoping to soak up as much information as possible from the 378 game defender.

“I had a big chat with Fletch, it was good to get the chance to meet the big fella,” Edwards said.

“I think he said he was going into his twenty second season which works out to be older than me so he has a bit of knowledge so I will be picking his brain as much as I can.”

Having played most of his football in defence for GWS Edwards is yet to find out from the coaching staff what his role will be in the red and black.