Bradley, 19, Essendon’s first round draft pick at the 2003 National Draft has only played five games but has already been compared by some to a young Dustin Fletcher and it is in the back half he might just get his opportunity.
The club sees Bradley as an integral past of their long term plans and as such offered the teenager a new two-year contract at the end of last season. It was a great show of faith.
With the added security of a new contract Bradley took the summer to focus on football. ""Kepler went away over the off season and spent his break in Perth and worked everyday in the gym and running and came back seven kilograms heavier."" assistant coach Dean Wallis said.
Knowing he had to mature physically to become a regular senior player, the hard work seems to be paying off for Bradley.
""He has made a massive improvement over the pre-season."" Wallis said. ""All his fitness standards basically say that he has improved. He’s run a 15 beeper (beep test), he has improved his strength in the gym also and his time for the 3.2km trial has come down considerably. So he’s adapted well to the training standards that are required for AFL.""
Nowhere was this improvement more evident than in the recent 3.2km time trial when Bradley dropped an incredible 34 seconds off his previous personal best.
""In your first year of AFL you can tend to struggle a little, but Kep has definitely taken the next step and he’s ready to go against Sydney and in the Wizard Cup against Carlton,"" Wallis said.
Wallis said the options a re numerous in terms of where Bradley slots into the Essendon senior side but the most obvious position appears to that vacated by Sean Wellman across half back.
""He has the height and reads the play well enough to slot in across there. He works really hard and his courage is unquestioned - it certainly is something that we will look at,"" Wallis said.
""But he could also move forward. He works hard in the air and at ground level which is an excellent sign for someone of his side so he can contest in both areas - that certainly helps keep the ball where you want it to be.
""And as strange as it sounds he could play a role in the midfield - a bit like Anthony Koutoufides. I'm not saying he is in that class at the moment but he moves well enough to do that. He has played a lot of football on the wing in Perth so it isn't something that is totally unfamiliar to him.""
