With Daniher and Shaun McKernan both moving to other AFL clubs during the off-season,the Bombers honed in on tall timber across the trade and draft windows,landing Peter Wright from the Gold Coast as well as youngsters Josh Eyre,Zach Reid,Nik Cox and Cody Brand.
Second-year forward Harrison Jones has also added size as he looks to break through for his senior debut.
But Rutten,entering his first season as senior coach at Tullamarine,said the Dons had also been eyeing forward time for Hurley,who has kicked just nine AFL goals in the last seven years and none since round 17,2017.
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“Mick Hurley has played a bit up forward in the past and we just want to make sure he’s the best well-rounded key position player we can have,” Rutten told theLunchtime Catch Uppodcast in an episode to be released on Monday.
“He’s spending a bit of time to build connection up in the forward line. It doesn’t necessarily mean that we’ll play him there for the whole season,but it’s just about giving him a bit more experience and exposure up there.”
Similarly,the Bombers are experimenting with James Stewart,who has spent some of the pre-season training as a key defender after spending the majority of his career as a tall forward.