“I have been living near ‘The Tan’ (a running track around the Botanical Gardens) for the past 18 months and I do a lot of running around there. I think that has improved my strength because it is a harder run than around Princes Park – it is a shade longer and with more hills,” Lloyd said. “I felt I was in reasonable shape and I have never finished that high in a run like that before so I’m making steady improvement.”
And Lloyd turned in the run despite being five kilograms heavier than he was at the completion of last season. “I actually hope to keep that weight on as long as I can – I tend to lose it pretty quickly during the season. I’m moving okay even thought I am a bit heavier so I’d like to keep it on,” he said.
Despite being just 25-years-old, pre-season training is nothing new to Lloyd who is just two seasons away from life membership. “Having done so many you just learn to train smarter – you know when to back off and when to really test yourself. I’ve also found that my recovery has improved as I have got older and that really helps your performance,” he said.
So is the added bulk and improved endurance giving the hint that he may be about to embark on a new career at centre half forward? “I feel like I’m training in a way that if that is where they want me to play I’ll be ready to go from game one. I feel I’m training well enough at this early stage to play there but I would think it will be a rotational set up again. We’ll just have to wait and see what the coaching staff have in mind,” Lloyd said.
It is only early days but Lloyd could be set for a stellar season. Click here to renew or purchase your 2004 Essendon membership.
