At the beginning of the year, Reynold's main goal was to play consistent footy in the VFL and take it from there. ""I didn't really consider playing senior footy this year. So when I played my first senior game in Round 3 against Brisbane, I was pretty nervous and excited at the same time. I just wanted to try and get a kick and try and learn something so I could get a game the next week or in the near future. My confidence has grown with each senior game I have played,"" Reynolds said.
Reynolds could still be playing under-18 football this season, only turning 18 at the start of June. He is juggling year 12 and footy this year and at times has felt the strain of the two commitments. ""During the pre-season I was really tired and sleeping a lot and then going to school and having to juggle the lot. Once you get into a routine and have good time management, it works out pretty well,"" Reynolds said. Reynolds hopes to get into an Outdoor Education or Physical Education course at university, but at this stage is planning on deferring university next year to concentrate on his footy.
Similar to draftee counterparts Simon O'Keefe and Shane Harvey, Reynolds needs to work on improving his strength. ""My main weakness is probably my strength and my weight at the moment which I am working on at the gym. At the start of the year I was told it (weight gain) would just be a gradual thing - don't expect too much. When I got to the club I was 71kgs and now I am around 75kgs - so I have put on a little bit,"" the former Geelong Falcons player said.
In the VFL side, Reynolds has played most of his footy in the mid-field. His ideal position is ruck rover and one of his major strength is his speed. Essendon supporters would also have noticed this year that Reynolds enjoys taking an overhead mark. One of his major strengths is his vertical leap - he has the highest at the club.
What David Flood says:
Joel Reynolds is doing VCE at the moment and this year is mainly to get him used to the club - he doesn't do all of the training. He is a good talent and we would like to see him go on and be a good player for the club down the track. He has some rare abilities - he has great skills, kicks the ball well, good mark and good leap. He has to improve his strength and build up. He is confident, without being overly confident and knows where he is at and knows where he wants to go. He has been a good pick-up for us. He is only a youngster too - he could have played under-18's again this year.
