KIERAN Strachan’s two consecutive best and fairest seasons with South Bendigo have caught the attention of Essendon’s VFL team.
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After training with the Dons’ VFL squad for the previous three weeks, ruckman Strachan has earned a place on the list for 2017.
“I have a mutual connection with the coach (Paul Corrigan) and my name was thrown up with what I’ve done at South and they invited me down to have a go,” Strachan said on Saturday.
“I don’t think they knew too much about me, but it has gone from there and I’ve been lucky enough that I guess they like what they have seen at training.
“I’m still fairly skinny, so I think it will be more of a development year… I’m not sure what opportunities I’ll get next year, but it’s good to be in that pathway now.”
Essendon VFL operations manager Ashley Brown told the club’s website the 20-year-old had impressed in training with his endurance and agility.
“Kieran is able to get involved in play regularly around the ground due to his mobility,” Brown said.
“He even beat quite a number of our midfielders in our recent two kilometre time trial.”
Strachan will be aligned with South Bendigo – where he has been appointed co-captain with Aaron Connaughton – meaning when he’s not selected for Essendon he will still play for the Bloods in the Bendigo Football-Netball League.
“He’s a 203cm big man, mobile and with good skills and it’s a great opportunity for him,” South Bendigo coach Brady Childs said.
“He has developed really well over the past couple of years and we’re really supportive of Kieran to take on this opportunity and we’re looking forward to seeing how he goes.”
Essendon bowed out of the VFL in the second week of the finals this year when defeated by eventual premier Footscray by 19 points.
Strachan was named the ruckman in the Bendigo Advertiser BFNL Team of the Year in 2016.