The post-season break usually sees the Essendon players make the most of the opportunity to head overseas together to bond and refresh after a gruelling season.
Bomber buddies Tayte Pears and Tom Bellchambers took that bonding one step further this year, returning from Thailand recently with a permanent reminder of each other.
“Tayte Pears and I thought it would be funny if we each got a tattoo while we were in Thailand,” Bellchambers told Bomber.tv.
“I got a tattoo of a pear on my foot and Tayte got a tattoo of a bell on his foot. We thought it was rather funny at the time.”
Despite there being more than three weeks until pre-season officially kicks off, Bellchambers was at Windy Hill today getting some practice in with former Essendon player Courtney Johns.
“I’m just trying to get myself fit with a few of the boys which is good,” Bellchambers said.
“Today we did some boxing followed by a kick on the oval.“
A knee injury to David Hille this season provided the 201cm-Tasmanian a chance to shine on the big stage, playing six senior games and averaging nine hit-outs.
Bellchambers admits he relished the opportunity to mix it with the league’s best and hopes to use the pre-season to best prepare himself for another taste of senior football.
“At the moment I’m just focusing on getting through the pre-season unscathed and then I’ll take it week by week from there,” he said.
“Playing in round one is the ultimate goal at the moment but there is obviously a long way to go before then.”
In the meantime, the 20-year-old is calling on the experience of former Essendon great Simon Madden and retired Bomber hardman Adam Ramanauskas for advice.
“Simon has been really great with providing advice in the ruckwork for me this season,” Bellchambers said.
“My manager Adam Ramanauskas has also helped me a lot. He has tried to set a few goals for me about where I need to be to get myself ready for round one.”
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