In the thick of a late-season charge for finals, Cam Nyko is crediting Essendon VFL’s off-field connection for their inspired form in the last month.
Following Saturday’s win over top four fancy Box Hill, the dynamic midfielder is acknowledging the weight of a first finals footy berth since 2019 for the VFL Dons but sees it as a driving force for the group.
In his third season at the club, Nyko is embracing a club culture curated by both the VFL and AFL squads across the season, with a recent surge in player availability aptly timed for the business end of the season.
Nyko on… the home stretch
The feeling around the group is really good at the moment, the best I’ve felt in my three years here.
We are full of belief going into these last few weeks. The vibe during the week at training and on gameday is so enjoyable to be around as a player.
Nyko on… trust
We know what our best brand of football feels like, and we have shown over the last few weeks that it is good enough to match anyone in the competition.
Knowing that to make the (top 10), we simply must win each week and if we play our best footy, we can do exactly that.
The belief amongst the boys is through the roof.
Nyko on… the coaches
We understand that every game is crucial now, but the messaging hasn’t really changed over the last few weeks.
Joycey just wants us to double down on our system, he’s encouraging us to stick to what we know and the results should come.
Nyko on… unity with the AFL list
The connection between AFL and VFL this year is really strong.
The buy-in from the AFL boys has been elite, their attitudes and willingness to connect with the VFL boys has made us a much better team on the field. We get the chance to spend a lot more time together during our interstate games.
I think this has helped us to connect and has really brought us together.
Nyko on… development
As a squad, we set a goal at the halfway point of the season to massively improve our defence.
From a personal perspective, I have just been trying to buy into the defensive side of things as well as be a bit more vocal during games and training.
Nyko on… an unsung teammate
I have loved how Solly (McKay) has been going. His footy over the past month is some of the best I’ve ever seen from him.
As a leader within the group, he leads by example and never drops his head through adversity. His attitude is a reflection of his great leadership, he will play any position required for the team and get the job done.
I can’t wait to continue playing with him in future.
Nyko on… closing it out
When we are at our best, our energy is high.
We are celebrating the little things, the one-percenters and playing our fast, exciting brand of footy. I’m very confident we will continue our form from past weeks and give the Bombers fans lots to get excited about.
