ESSENDON recruit Andrew Phillips has his eyes set on being the Bombers' first-choice ruckman after crossing from Carlton.

Phillips left the Blues at the end of last season after four years and 27 games with the club. That had followed his start at Greater Western Sydney, when he managed 14 senior appearances in the Giants' initial years. 

Essendon added Phillips in last year's Telstra AFL Trade Period to bolster its ruck division, which has been steered by Tom Bellchambers for the past four years.   

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The 28-year-old has impressed with his training since arriving at Tullamarine and is pushing to be the Bombers' leading ruckman. 

"Obviously I'd love to be the first choice, but I do like the idea of playing with two rucks. It's nice to be able to have a bit of a chop out and obviously I am a little bit biased being a ruckman around the value we bring, but I'd very much like to play alongside Tom," he told AFL.com.au. 

However, Phillips has come to know the reality of life as a ruckman. At Carlton he was behind Matthew Kreuzer in the pecking order, but in his five senior games last year he averaged nearly 30 hit-outs. 

Essendon has tended to ruck Bellchambers, 30, by himself in recent years, sometimes through necessity. 

Last year the Bombers trialled former Docker Zac Clarke while Bellchambers was injured, while key forward Shaun McKernan was at stages also forced into the role with back-up Sam Draper recovering from a knee reconstruction.

Phillips, who joined Essendon's younger players for the start of their pre-season in November, said he had worked closely with Bellchambers. He will use this week's training camp at Coffs Harbour to better get to know the experienced big man.

"I'd love for us both to be out there on the field but the chances are, with the way things are going, teams don't really go that way as much anymore," he said.

"It's obviously hard, we're both jostling for the same spot and we both want to be out there playing but the reality is it's probably only going to be one of us. 

"At this stage, obviously I've just walked in the door, and we're both trying to put our hand up. Match [simulation] training is starting to heat up now and drills are getting more intense so it's a good opportunity for both of us to try and put our best foot forward to stamp our claim on round one." 

Phillips became the first player to be traded between arch rivals Carlton and Essendon in 16 years when the deal was struck last October.

The Blues said Phillips had been a required player prior to his trade request, but he felt a new start was important.

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"It wasn't done easily. It was a pretty tough time and busy time of the year but I saw the opportunity to change clubs, and it's good chance to re-start and get a chance to rebrand yourself. That's hard to do at a club you've been at for four years so that was a driving factor in coming over," he said.

"It was definitely frustrating not playing AFL but it's not through anyone's fault. It's up to me, really. I'm not filthy on Carlton or any of the coaches or staff for me not getting games. 

"At the end of the day it all comes down to me and my performance and that wasn't where it needed to be to keep Kreuzer out and stay in the side and play consistently. At the end of the day it's all on me so there's no ill feeling to anyone, it's just the way it was." 

Phillips is one of five former Giants on Essendon's list – alongside Dylan Shiel, Devon Smith, Jacob Townsend and James Stewart – so had some familiar faces when he walked through the doors of The Hangar.

Plus, he had a lookalike, with social media abuzz with his sameness to marking half-back Aaron Francis. The locker room didn't miss the mirror image, either.  

"Fortunately it's died off a little bit, but when the trade went through I was getting tagged in plenty of memes and the jokes were flying around," he said.

"There's still the odd joke that gets around, but coming from Carlton I had Matty Lobbe there as well who looked pretty similar to me as well. The gags are endless but it's all good fun." 

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