Essendon got more than it bargained for when it acquired Will Setterfield from Carlton in exchange for just a future fourth-round pick during the trade period.
And the breakout star has opened up on how a permanent midfield role has him “thriving” in his new colours.
After playing a variety of positions at both GWS and Carlton during his first five seasons in the league since getting drafted with the fifth overall pick in 2016, Setterfield is very much flourishing as a pure on-baller for Brad Scott’s 3-1 side in the early parts of this season.
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Stringer: ‘Oh my god, that’s going in!’ | 00:56
The 25-year old has averaged a career-best 23.8 disposals, 6.5 tackles and 6.5 marks per contest and ranks top 20 in the competition in score involvements to emerge as one of the biggest value recruits.
Speaking to foxfooty.com.au after Essendon’s 13-point win over one of Setterfield’s former clubs GWS, the midfielder said he’s “absolutely loving life” as a Bomber.
“I feel like I’m playing my best position at the moment as a midfielder and I’m just thriving off that,” he said.
“I’m trying to build confidence week to week. To get ‘Scotty’ (Scott) and ‘Gia’ (Daniel Ginsiracusa) and the coaches backing me in that role has been awesome.”
Of course, Setterfield’s other former team, Carlton, is firing as a collective, currently sitting second on the ladder and yet to drop a game.
And while Setterfield still keeps in touch with a bunch of his ex-teammates, he admitted he’s not keeping a close eye on the Blues on field.
“I still see a lot of the boys all the time. I became really close with them over my four years at the Blues,” he said.
“But I haven’t been paying too much attention (to Carlton), I’m just focusing on us, what we’re doing and how we can keep getting better.”
The win over the Giants saw Essendon climb into the top four and bounce back from its first loss of the season against St Kilda.
It comes ahead of a testing period for the Bombers where they’ll face Melbourne, Collingwood, Geelong and Port Adelaide away in the next month where we’ll learn plenty about Scott’s side.
Essendon Bombers Press Conference | 15:58
But Setterfield stressed that the Bombers are taking each matchup as it comes.
“It’s obviously pleasing to start the season with three wins, just got to keep it rolling from here,” he said.
“We don’t focus too far ahead, even though it’s a cliche, we’re just trying to take it one week at a time.
“Scotty has been massive for that. You’ve seen the amount of energy and youth within the group and that’s making the club a great place to be each day.
“The boys are loving come into work and then we just try to perform on the weekend.”
The Bombers generated headlines this week after making the bold move to name former skipper Dyson Heppell as their substitute against GWS.
Setterfield backed up Scott’s post-game comments in praising Heppell for the way he’s handled himself and believes it’s set a high standard of leadership at the club.
“Since I’ve worked with Heppell the last four months, he’s the ultimate clubman. He would do anything for the footy club, so you can’t knock him one bit,” Setterfield said.
“I think it shows to everyone with his leadership to be the sub, we need the whole list to win games of footy. Everyone’s got to play their role.
“If our skipper from the last six years was happy to play sub for the team, I think anyone should be willing to do it. His leadership is amazing and everyone can follow.”
