Wright sets doubts aside with power-packed return

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Key points

• Peter Wright kicked five goals in his first game of the year after shoulder surgery on season eve.
• Wright has become an integral player for Essendon since his trade from Gold Coast.
• The key forward credits new coach Brad Scott for the Bombers’ renewed resilience under pressure.

Some doubt crept in for Peter Wright during his time on the sidelines this year.

A training mishap on season eve left Essendon’s reigning Crichton medallist with a dislocated right shoulder, and scans soon confirmed he would require surgery and be out for months. He has about a 10-centimetre scar as a permanent reminder.

Peter Wright made an excellent return from injury against Carlton.Credit: Getty Images

Wright’s career-best 53-goal season in his second year as a Bomber in 2022 coincided with board turmoil, many losses, former coach Ben Rutten’s sacking, then the arrival of Brad Scott as his replacement.

But his setback meant he would have to watch the likes of recruit Sam Weideman and Mr Fix It, Kyle Langford, man the forward line in his absence, as Scott set about reinventing and reviving Essendon.

Wright is a self-confessed nervous watcher and struggled most on weekends rather than the Monday to Friday rehab grind.

The Bombers won seven of 12 games without him, too, so it was a relief to step back in on Sunday night against Carlton and quickly realise his focal-point role remained. Five goals – three in the match-turning third quarter – made for a triumphant return.

“I really enjoyed the night. Coming into the game, I wanted to base my game on contest work and I thought that’s what really got me into the game early,” Wright told The Age.

“I tried to hit the ball as hard as I could in the first quarter, and bring the smalls into the game. I was probably uncertain about how I was going to feel out there, in the new system, but I loved it. I was itching to get back out there, and it’s really pleasing to come back in and feel like I’m still a big part of it.”

That comfort is something Wright has felt almost ever since he landed at Tullamarine after a difficult finish to his time at Gold Coast, the club that selected him eighth overall in the 2014 draft but could not find a spot for him throughout the 2020 season.

Wright in his Gold Coast days.Credit: Getty Images

It was perplexing at the time and even more so since ‘Two-Metre Peter’ blossomed into a 50-plus goalkicker and best-and-fairest winner after what he describes as a lot of hard yards. And all Essendon gave up was a future fourth-round selection.

“I felt like I did a fair bit of hard work up in Gold Coast, too, but I started to get the rewards once I moved down here. It’s amazing what a change of scenery can do,” Wright said. “I’ve been so welcomed by the club, by the players, our coaching staff. If you feel like you’re accepted – not that I didn’t feel accepted up there, to be clear – but they’ve always made me feel really confident out there. I’m enjoying where my footy’s at, but there’s still a lot of hard work to go.”

Wright has played just once under Scott but witnessed his influence behind the scenes and likes what he sees, from the standards being set, to the way the Bombers are standing up to pressure – as they did against the Blues – after that was a problem area last year.

“I think at times last year, under that pressure, the game got away from us, and you can’t play catch up every week, so our ability to absorb some pressure and stick to our system [is pleasing],” he said. “There are a lot of things different from last year, but I think our system is holding up better.

“Brad’s been super. He’s really positive with us, and he wants us to bring our strengths – but he’s also really clear and doesn’t take a backward step on what he expects of us. I think that’s great when you know what you need to do to play your role.

“I’ve really enjoyed working with him to this point. I think you get belief off evidence, and we were able to gain that earlier in the year, string together some wins and build the belief we can match it with the best teams.”

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