AFTER the recent success of its recent Next Generation Academy (NGA) graduates, Essendon will be buoyed by the emergence of current member Blake Justice. After an impressive bottom-age campaign which yielded 15 Talent League appearances, the 17-year-old is seeking to play every game this year.

Justice has cut his teeth as a utility across the wing, half-forward flank and in midfield, but is hoping his height and athletic qualities translate to a genuine mid-forward role. With some handy ex-teammates and role models to lean on, he looks in good stead to follow through on the promise he has already shown.

We sat down for an interview with Justice at the recent Talent League preseason testing combine.

PRESEASON Q&A

Q: Blake, how did you get started in footy?

BJ: I always grew up playing footy in a family full of football and just loved it, fell in love with it and still do [love it].

Q: Can you touch on your ties to Essendon in terms of your multicultural background, and how the NGA has supported you?

BJ: My mum was born in Indonesia, so that’s my NGA status there. The club’s done so much for me. I was able to train with them this preseason for a little bit. Just to learn off an AFL culture and an AFL environment, I was really grateful to be there and really grateful to have lots of coaches that supported me throughout the way.

Q: Was there anyone there who took you under their wing?

BJ: Saad El-Hawli and Jayden Nguyen were really big factors for me. They just got me around the joint and really taught me the ways. They helped me a lot so I’m [grateful] for them.

Q: Having seen a couple of teammates go through the same pathway, how important is it for you to have that visual to work towards?

BJ: They’re really big inspirations to me and just seeing the work they put in and seeing what they had to do to get there has really inspired me to follow their footsteps.

Q: What are some of your goals for the year?

BJ: I want to play every game this year, which includes every [Vic] Metro game and if everything lines up a bit of VFL for Essendon. But just for me, I just want to develop all year and play every game.

Q: What kind of role do you anticipate playing?

BJ: I hope to play a bit more like a key forward when I go down forward. I just really want to use my speed and my agility in the midfield to come through packs a bit quicker then go up forward and be a really big marking option.

Q: You touched on some of your strengths there, can you expand on them and outline the areas you’re still working on?

BJ: I reckon my speed and power and my agility are my [main] strengths, as well as my kicking and my decision making. This preseason I’ve looked at a lot of body contests and a lot of one-on-ones, so I feel like that’s something I still have to work on in my game and to be able to use my height and manoeuvre players. If that becomes good, it’ll all piece together.

Q: Do you watch a lot of footy?

BJ: Yeah for sure. Big footy head, love it… I’m not a Bombers man, actually. I’m a big Carlton fan.

Q: Are there any players you look up to or mould your game on?

BJ: A bit of Isaac Heeney, and Chad Warner too. Both players that are elite with their athleticism and can roll forward and be marking options.

Q: Which teammate you think we should look out for to have a big year?

BJ: Nate Jenkins, he’ll kick lots of goals this year and he’s just going to be a really big prospect for next year.