The BomberLand team caught up with Mark Alvey after his running session this morning at Princes Park:
Q. Mark, it must be good to make a fresh start at a club like Essendon?
A. It is awesome to be at a great club like Essendon. If you look at the powerhouse clubs of Melbourne, it is probably Essendon and Collingwood. To have the opportunity to come to a club like Essendon is just a great opportunity for me to kick on in my career.
Q. When you were drafted to the Western Bulldogs, your best mate Dean Solomon was drafted to Essendon. Were you envious at all of him going to one of the powerhouse clubs?
A. For sure, they get to play the Friday night games and play all the blockbuster games at the MCG. It is something that Solly and I always spoke about, eventually being able to play together and now our dream has come true. Click here to watch best mates Alvey and Solomon in action next season for the Bombers - renew or purchase your 2004 Essendon membership.
Q. The last couple of years have been pretty tough for you, how would you describe your footy at the Bulldogs?
A. It was an up and down sort of a time. The first few years were pretty tough - I didn't play much senior footy and then in my fifth year I played every game and things were starting to look good and then all of a sudden I did my knee and missed pretty much all of last season.
Q. How is the knee now?
A. The knee itself feels really good. The rest of my body is just getting used to the stresses of pre-season, but the knee is fine and I haven't had any swelling trouble at all.
Q. Given the Bombers have been chasing you for a few seasons, do you feel a sense of expectation all be it healthy, to really perform for them?
A. For sure and I really appreciate Essendon giving me a go, especially after doing my knee last season. They were prepared to give me a two-year deal and I feel really wanted by the Essendon Football Club, which is good and hopefully in the next two years I can really repay them.
Q. Did it surprise you that they were interested after your knee injury?
A. I was probably shocked that they were still prepared to give me a two-year deal and take me on board after having a knee reconstruction. It is certainly not something you see very often.
Q. In fairness to the Bulldogs, they still offered you a new contract after injuring your knee...
A. They offered me a new contract and I have no hard feelings towards anyone at the Bulldogs. At the end of the day I got an offer to go to Essendon to play with my best mate.
Q. So will you be looking to put Mark Johnson or Jason Johnson out of the team?
A. Not at all. I look at Jason Johnson and what he has achieved and he is someone I really look up to. He played seconds footy for a while when he was starting out and he cemented a spot in the side and has won a best and fairest and been runner--up twice in the last two years.
Q. Where would you like to play?
A. If I could get on the ball it would be great, but if I could play on the wing or across half-back that would be good. Sheeds has already told me I have to be prepared to be flexible in my footy and where I want to play, so I am happy to play where ever.
Q. You can see with Solly, just how well a player can come back from a knee reconstruction?
A. I guess that gives me confidence coming to Essendon knowing that they have all the right people - the physios and fitness staff are all top class.
Q. It is a pretty tough side to break into?
A. I have stepped into a club that has a pretty strong list at the moment and there is a lot of hard work ahead. I will just try and be positive and do all the right things and get my knee strong again. I want to get back to playing footy and enjoying footy and then I will worry about getting into the side.
Q. Has Sheeds spoken to you about where he would like you to play?
A. He hasn't really sort of singled out anywhere he would like me to play yet. He has more got my ideas about what I can bring to Essendon and what I believe my strengths are.
Q.What is your training program like - are you able to do everything?
A. I am pretty much doing all the running at the moment, which is good. I am probably three to four weeks away from doing ball work, it is more straight line stuff at the moment. As far as training goes I can pretty much do everything.
Q. You spoke before about having a laugh at training with Solly yesterday, but is was almost a situation where he wasn't going to be here. Have you spoken about that as well?
A. We have spoken about it. I think in the end Solly was always going to stay at Essendon. He has great mates at the club and he has a great history and has played good footy for the club and he just loves the Essendon Football Club.
Q. It must have been a tough time for him though?
A. I think it was. He had an enormous offer from Richmond, but I think it was a good decision for the Essendon Football Club that he ended up staying.
Q. You caught up with him yesterday?
A. He flew in yesterday morning about 5.30am and we had training at 8am, so I saw him yesterday.
Click here to read about how Justin Murphy is settling in to his new club.
Click here to read about new recruit Matthew Allan's first day at the club.
