Q. How have you settled in at the club?
A. Really well - all the players are very friendly and make you feel welcome. Essendon has a great atmosphere and everyone is really good mates.
Q. How are you finding preseason training?
A. I am really enjoying the training. It is very full-on, but it has been good so far. I am finding it tough and I think that has a bit to do with the weather - it has been freezing!!
Q. Every preseason, the players seem to dread the weekly hill session - how are you finding it?
A. It is tough, but I like that kind of stuff. I like power and explosive drills.
Q. What goals have you set yourself over the preseason?
A. To get to Christmas fit and well. The last couple of preseasons at Brisbane have been interrupted by injury, so it is a main focus to stay injury free. I will take it how it comes after Christmas. I just want to grab the opportunities and make the most of it. I have always wanted to play for Essendon and so has my family. As a kid I would go to the MCG every week and watch the Bombers play and come to Windy Hill to watch the team train. Now that I am here, it is unbelievable.
Q. Being an Essendon supporter - who was your favourite player as a kid?
A. I have always loved watching Michael Long and Gavin Wanganeen. I love the way they play and the excitement they bring to people when they get the footy.
Q. What about role models at the club now - is there a player that has stood out to you?
A. My weights partner is Jason Johnson and he goes about his training very seriously. Also Mark Johnson and James Hird stand-out - both are professionals and I have been watching them and learning.
Q. Has anyone at Essendon spoken to you about your on-field role next year?
A. The assistant coaches have mentioned that they would like me to be an important part of the forward line. That is the role I wanted to play up in Brisbane, but it was too hard to get a game sometimes. They didn't lose a game for so long and you keep playing well in the reserves, but there was no opportunities. That is one of the reasons why I wanted to come to Essendon - I want to start every week in a good team.
Q. Training is full-time at the moment, however next year, are you looking to do something away from football?
A. At the moment I am not working, but next year I would like to start studying again. I did a bit of horticultural in Brisbane and I would like to continue studying that part-time. I think it is good to have a break from footy and concentrate on something else.
Q. Even though it is the football off-season, have you noticed the difference in football culture in Melbourne compared to Brisbane?
A. Definitely. In Brisbane, you are lucky to get half a page of footy in the paper and down here, you get the entire back section. Brisbane don't get as much exposure and it is probably a good thing because there is not all of the pressure from the footy world.
