A group of Essendon players intent on making the most of their off-season will head to the MCG for Saturday’s Elimination Final.
SEN.com.au understands roughly 12 players will attend the St Kilda v GWS game, alongside two assistant coaches.
Led by Zach Merrett, Kyle Langford, Andrew McGrath and Jordan Ridley, these Bombers have chosen to attend to get a first-hand look at finals football.
“I absolutely love it,” Luke Hodge said on SEN's Crunch Time.
“They are committing to showing they want to change the culture and prove we want to get better.”
It’s a far cry from this time last year, when more than 30 players headed to Europe for a holiday.
Brad Scott has spoken publicly and privately about the need for his players to live an “AFL lifestyle,” and it’s believed watching finals and learning from other teams on the biggest stage is part of this education and improvement.
The change of culture has resonated with players, some of whom will pay their own way for an overseas fitness and training pre-season tour of the USA.
Essendon is also unashamedly ambitious in its want to improve its list as well as its winning culture.
They are waiting on an answer from Ben McKay, while Brandon Zerk-Thatcher is still uncontracted.