ESSENDON launching pad Michael Hibberd has embarked on a pre-season of purging the kilograms, believing being too heavy may be the cause of his history of hamstring problems.

Despite emerging as one of the Bombers’ most important players, the dashing defender has been plagued by hamstring injuries in recent years and was struck down twice last season.

One of four Essendon players now slogging it out in Colorado, Hibberd, 24, said he wanted to play at a weight he last achieved in his teens.

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“I’m running really well at the moment and I’m maybe a kilo or two lighter, which I’m hoping will take the stress off my hamstrings,” Hibberd told the Herald Sun from Boulder.

“I did two in a row last year and probably came back a bit early from the first one, which was frustrating.

“Being a half-back/winger that runs a fair bit, I was carrying about 92kg or 93kg, where getting around 90kg or even lower would be nice. The club seems to think that’s why I’ve had some hammy issues in the past. If I can keep my weight under 90kg from now on, that would be a good goal for me.

“Maybe I’m just naturally heavy. I haven’t been under 90kg since I was 17 so maybe it’s in the genes.”

Hibberd has been joined on the 13-day US altitude camp by skipper Jobe Watson and defenders Cale Hooker and Michael Hurley.

“We’re four players who have really benefited from the altitude and the work we’ve done here,” Hibberd said.

“I guess the results the four of us have got out of it is the thought behind sending us back. The work so far has been pretty solid. The running at this altitude really hits the lungs hard.”

Hibberd said he was confident the loss of Paddy Ryder would not derail Essendon’s finals bid, pointing to Tom Bellchambers’ return to fitness and the acquisition of the GWS ruckman Jonathan Giles.

Despite fears of an exodus, Ryder has been the only player to leave the Bombers because of the ongoing drugs saga, and Hibberd was among a batch of recent re-signings.

“We’re as tight as we’ve ever been,” he said. “I was never going to leave the club. I wanted to show I’m faithful to the club and a lot of guys have been the same in the last two years while it’s all been going on. We’ve lost Paddy, but he’s the only one.

“I can see others signing from here on, too. We’re comfortable and we know what we want to achieve and I can’t see anyone else leaving. That exodus stuff is a bit of a myth.”

For Hibberd and others, the obvious next step is to win a final, which Essendon hasn’t done in a decade. The Bombers have lost their past three finals, the most recent against North Melbourne this year when they squandered a 27-point half-time lead.

“I’ve only been at the club for four seasons, but losing that final last season burns a bit in the guts,” Hibberd said.

“For Essendon, its members and fans, 10 years without winning a final is pretty disappointing for what has been a historically successful club. Winning one next year is definitely where we need to be.”