Peter Wright, a revelation at Essendon Football Club

Collingwood Premiership forward Travis Cloke helped him out one day a week in pre-season, with the pair immediately developing a relationship. Cloke’s kicks worried him at times, but he was the game’s most competitive brand from 2010-13 and his positioning was elite.

“He’s a great person. [We have had] a lot of time to work on this marker craft and he was really helpful on the keys forward and backward and how you use the body,” Wright said.

That’s not the only lesson the Bombers are taking as they familiarize themselves with how Brad Scott wants them to play, with a more emphasis on team defense. According to Wright, the challenge for the group is to apply the game plan consistently so they can learn what’s required of each other throughout the year.

He’s also hoping the squad around him settles into 50 a little more than last season when Jake Stringer, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and Will Snelling played just 23 games together, compared to 59 games in 2021.

It had players like Matt Guelfi trying to play three reels at once as he tried to plug the holes created.

Wright is thrilled at the prospect of McDonald-Tipungwuti, Jy Menzie and Alwyn Davey Jr. buzzing around his feet and scaring opponents.

“When you have the ball you just notice that the game speeds up a little bit. [They are] So explosive on both offense and defense, you can definitely tell the difference,” Wright said.

Wright has transformed his career and team, and he wants to do the same off the field by becoming an ambassador for Big Brothers, Big Sisters, an organization that provides mentors to at-risk young people.

He has at least five seasons left on the Bombers roster, enough time to shape the fortunes of another new era for the Bombers.