Essendon prides itself on being one of the fittest side's in the competition - something it has achieved under the watchful eye of club fitness coach John Quinn. To ensure players fitness levels are being maintained they undergo stringent fitness testing at strategic times during the season. The split round is the perfect opportunity to conduct such testing and that is what the players will be put through at Windy Hill tomorrow.

""It is an opportune time to check on their fitness,"" Essendon football manager Matthew Drain said. ""I wouldn't anticipate there is any major problem with any of the players but we just might find an area that they need to work on in the second half of the season.""

The players will have their speed, agility and vertical leap tested and will kick off the day with a time trial around Princes Park to test their endurance.