The BomberLand team caught up with Matthew Allan after his first session of fitness testing:
Q. How have you settled in at your first day at Essendon?
A. It has been great. It is obviously a big change for me, but it is a fantastic environment and everyone has been very welcoming, so it has been fantastic.
Q. Is today the first day you have had any contact with the senior group?
A. I have been into the club a couple of times and met a few people but today is the first time it has been all hands on deck, so I have got to meet everyone.
Q. What are you hoping to achieve during your time at Essendon?
A. The main thing for me is to try and get as fit as I can and do everything Quinny (John Quinn) gives me over the summer. I would really like to give the club a few good years of service and hopefully I can find a place in the team.
Q. How have you handled things on your first day?
A. Not to bad as I have done a bit over the break. It will obviously get more intense in the coming weeks. I just can't wait to get into the bulk of the training. I have been really looking forward to this day for a while and am really happy to be here.
Q. Have you spoken to Kevin Sheedy about where you hope to fit in this year?
A. Not really. I guess they are thinking along the same lines as I am and that is to get fit. I have had a pretty trying last three years, so it is a new start for me and I am just going to try and do everything I can to give good service to the club.
Q. How would you describe your last year at Carlton?
A. It was pretty disappointing. My form wasn't good enough and I wasn't fit enough because I didn't do a pre-season. I was sort of behind the eight ball from day one. My body is feeling good and I am right to go. I just have to lap up the work and take it from there.
Q. It must give you a new outlook on your football career?
A. It does for sure. I don't think I have been this excited about football for many years. So from that point of view to come to a professional club like Essendon with the fantastic facilities and the people they have got here has just been a dream come true.
BomberLand will catch up with other new recruits Justin Murphy and Mark Alvey later this week and update you on how they are settling in to their new club.
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