""No full forward has ever run that sort of endurance time. You go back to the days of Dunstall and Lockett and they weren’t overly endowed with endurance, but Lloyd has really taken his game to another level. He realises that if you play at full forward now you have to have a second, third and fourth effort to lose your opponent and tire them out,"" assistant coach Mark Harvey said.
At times last season Lloyd pushed up the ground and played across half-forward. The move proved successful and the coaching panel has hinted that Lloyd may be asked to play at centre half forward this season. With the possibility of Courtney Johns coming into the team and being another option at full forward, centre half forward could be a likely move for Lloyd.
""Matthew has gone to the next level in his fitness resume and he is looking dangerous – perhaps he is telling us he wants to play at centre half forward,"" Harvey said. Time will tell where Lloyd will line up this season, but one thing for certain is the 25-year-old will be a valuable asset regardless of where he lines up. Watch Lloyd in action this season and purchase a 2004 Essendon membership. Click here for more information.
Lloyd wasn't the only player to break a personal record at the time trial. 13 players also ran personal best times on Monday at Princes Park. ""That is sensational considering they have all come back after having two weeks break. They have come back with a thorough focus.
""There has been a real determination before Christmas to get things right and I think we have, so lets hope we can sustain it leading up to the season. Once again you can be as fit as you like at this time of the year but you need to hold it up at the end of the year,"" Harvey said.
Click here to read all the news from Monday’s 3.2km time trial and check out the photos in the Musashi pre-season photo gallery.
