Injuries kept Essendon Next Generation Academy prospect Blake Justice to just nine games in 2026.
The explosive 190cm Calder Cannons utility entered the year as one of the prospects with the most excitement and upside, but had limited opportunity to reach his very best.
When he did play, he showed his blend of athleticism, skill and competitiveness, and thus remains a likely selection at next month's National Draft.
He again injured his hamstring during the State Combine but is expecting to be fit after Christmas, allowing him to complete most of pre-season.
He spoke to Zero Hanger about his competitiveness, innate confidence, Essendon's impact, Indonesian heritage, footy obsession, navigating the setbacks and more.
Jonty Ralphsmith: Blake, thanks for taking the time to have a chat. Before we get into anything specific, it was obviously an injury-interrupted year - how did you assess it overall?
Blake Justice: I was struggling at the start. It was such a long injury and unexpected news. I was in a bad headspace, but I was working towards controlling what I could control and doing what I could, and I reckon I picked up a bit of form at the end of the year, and so did the Cannons. I was grateful to experience the opportunities given to me at VFL and Vic Metro. Overall, not the greatest year I planned to have and even though it didn't fall my way, I feel like I really stuck true to myself this year and I'm proud of myself for getting into form late into the year.
JR: Well summed up. We'll go through it chronologically. You touched on the difficulty of the injury; are you able to give an insight into your mindset around that time and how you navigated it?
BJ: With the hammy, it kept getting extended by weeks, and doubt crept in about whether I would play Metro or get picked up at the end of the year and the doubt that I would not show enough started to creep in. I had support with my family and friends, so props to them for giving me extra motivation when I needed it.
JR: The lessons you learned along the way which you touched on – what were they?
BJ: I feel like it's just about the patience you have to have at the next level. It's not always going to come your way, so sometimes you have to accept that fact and just keep working your arse off, so I learned a lot about the patience and diligence I need to have.
JR: Good insight. Being able to be immersed at Essendon – how did that help during your time sidelined?
BJ: Essendon took over my rehab, and I was grateful to be in the best hands I could be and knowing they were backing me in is something I'm thankful for. Being able to have AFL experience training with the boys was surreal. Seeing the habits you have to have is something I'm grateful to have experienced.
JR: What sticks out when you reflect on your time training at Essendon?
BJ: It's definitely just the standard. It's not only when you get on the field, but also what you do off the field. There's so much to take in; you might zone out for 15 minutes, and you're already out of it, so to stay tuned in all day – you can tell who the best players are by what they do off the field.
JR: Jayden Nguyen and Saad El-Hawli are a couple you have leaned on heavily. Tell us about your relationship with them.
BJ: Yeah, so they have the same story as me being multicultural and Jayden especially being through the NGA, so I've hooked onto them, and they've shown me around. I'm thankful to them. Jayden and I are good mates, so having him around and being able to chat to him about anything has been great.
JR: Has there been advice either has given you which has stuck with you?
BJ: A big one has been to be yourself and not go into your shell. You're there for a reason – even for me, I was only training, but I was there for a reason, so they kept emphasising that I should express myself on and off the field. Your friends will come and go, but you should stay yourself.
JR: Good advice. Who is Blake Justice then, when you're being yourself?
BJ: I'm a really competitive person. I really like my sport. I love golf and hate to lose. If you ever get matched with me, I'll probably throw a club in your face. I'm an outgoing, confident person. On and off the field, I'm competitive, and that sums me up. There's not much to me.
JR: Do you have a handicap on the golf course?
BJ: I was golfing a lot more, but then I did the hammy. Let's call it mid-teens.
JR: Very good. You said you were sporty. You had some rep basketball and cricket growing up, so were you always going to choose footy?
BJ: There were always a few sports lingering, but my heart was always set on footy. I love it so much. I watch seven games a week. Footy's always been there, and I couldn't imagine a life without it.
JR: Seven games a week?!
BJ: Yeah, whatever Dad's watching, I'll watch. I love it so much; it's always on the TV. I really like going to games too, so whenever I can, I'm catching the train down to the city as well.
JR: How many games would you have been to this year?
BJ: 15-20. Always Carlton games (as a Carlton supporter), a few Essendon games and a few other games at Marvel where we can get tickets. Whatever you see, you can implement, and it gets stuck in your head, and you get more skills and more out of it.
JR: If you're watching seven games a weekend, I take it you're not just watching it as a fan; you're watching it as an educational thing as well.
BJ: I like watching a lot of players too. I watch a lot of vision of players, but vision only goes so far when you can go watch it IRL (in real life). So I like watching players; it's entertaining to watch and informative, and I'll try to implement it at Tuesday training. As much as I like watching for the outcome, I do like watching players and seeing what they can do.
JR: Who are you watching?
BJ: I like watching Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera. He moves really well, and I can take some of what he can do. And I like watching the two Sydney boys, Isaac Heeney and Chad Warner – I like their role and what they can do when they go forward of the ball.
JR: You said confidence before is a part of you. Did that waiver during your time on the sidelines?
BJ: Nah, never. That was a big thing for me to not drop my head in that mental aspect. I knew it would be tough when I came back, but I'm proud of embracing myself when I came back, and I started with bad games but worked into it. I always have inner confidence in myself, my abilities and who I am as a person.
JR: Well answered. It's obviously been a tough season with injury and you're sidelined at the moment but is there full confidence in your body when you are out on the field?
BJ: If I'm out on the field, I know I'm 100 per cent, and that's something I go through with my team, family and physios. I feel like I worked closely with my physios this year to get me up for games.
JR: You touched on it before, but the hamstring injury, the fact it was continually delayed in terms of your return, what's the emotion during that time?
BJ: It was pretty hard, to be honest. There were a few long nights and a lot of overthinking looking back at it. For me, I knew I would have enough chances if I kept working. I had enough weeks there and just had to stay patient. I was getting used to it being pushed back. I knew it was what had to be done, so I kept working.
JR: When you were out there, you got midfield opportunities. How did you grow in that space?
BJ: I feel like my clearance and contest stuff grew as a player, especially coming back to the Cannons, where I spent most of my time in the mid. I was able to show I could play inside and outside of the contest and use my strengths. I showed what I could do with my speed in that role. Props to the boys (Calder midfielders) Koby (Bewick) and Musty (Darwish); we had a connected group which helped all of us.
JR: Koby, Musty, Tevita Rodan and yourself are all Essendon-tied. What's your relationship like? Have you discussed the prospect of all playing together at the Bombers?
BJ: We have a joke about it here and there but nothing too serious, especially with Tevita given he could go to Port Adelaide. We're a connected group though and see each other three or four times a week so it's hard not to be connected. They're such good boys, and I think all three will go high next year.
JR: You talked about your speed in the midfield, and we saw it at the State Combine with your 2.81-second run. What sort of work are you doing on your speed, which is such a significant point of difference?
BJ: I work on my speed a lot. That's my biggest strength when it comes to my athletic profile. I like knowing I'm the quickest out there before I hop out on the field. My 20-metre was good, and I was proud of my score. I want to continue to show it way more in games. Having that 20-metre time behind my name, I can tell people I'm quick now, and it shows when they come to watch me. I'm still developing getting it out in games, but I think I'm starting to show what I can do. I'll look at getting a sprint coach in pre-season. That means I might go overseas to get one. I really want to work on my speed to be the quickest on the field.
JR: Have you got that teed up – going overseas?
BJ: It's an option I've talked about with Dad. We're just looking to find the right people and improve my game so next year I can come in as quick or strong as possible.
JR: You obviously got injured mid-Combine, but what were your speed and agility goals?
BJ: My 20-metre goal was anything under 2.89, which I ran at the start of the year, and I comfortably beat that, which I was proud of. For my agility, I was looking at a sub-7.9. I wish I had a chance to do it because I was running that test well in the lead-up.
JR: With all the speed and athleticism we talk about, it's one thing showing it at junior level, but you've got to show it at senior level and look pretty comfortable at VFL footy. How was that experience?
BJ: I was grateful for that opportunity. It was a goal for me coming into the year. It was a way quicker game than what I have been playing, and the boys got around my family and me; I really embraced it. Being in the circle after is something I'll cherish. Experiencing the bigger bodies was a good experience.
JR: You're tied to Essendon via your Indonesian heritage. How closely connected to it are you?
BJ: That's Mum's side, and we dive into that. Mum's one of six, so we have a lot of cousins in Indonesia. I'm always ringing them and not forgetting who I am and my culture and nationality. I have a lot of pride in my culture.
JR: There's a lot of Aussies who hear Indonesia and immediately think just of Bali. What do you want people to know about Indonesian culture?
BJ: To me, it's people working hard to have a living. Mum's a big one on that; she came here for her family. It's not just the party in Bali, but a lot of people work hard for their family. It's a really good place to be.
JR: What would it mean to go to Essendon, but also how open are you to going elsewhere?
BJ: I'd love to go anywhere, whether that's Essendon or not, whatever gets me on the list. Essendon has done so much for me, and I'd love to repay them, but wherever it is, I'll put 100 per cent anywhere.
JR: What sort of player does Blake Justice become in five years?
BJ: A really quick mid who can go forward and kick a few goals.
JR: So you see yourself as a mid long term rather than a forward pinch-hitting in the midfield.
BJ: For sure. I see myself as a mid, pinch-hitting forward. If I get in the system, obviously I'll start in a forward role.
JR: A forward role lends itself to goal celes. You've got some in the pipeline?
BJ: The Superman cele because my last name is Justice. It's a bit cringey, but that might have to get brought out. I don't mind the celes.
JR: Last one. A lot of boys have pasta the night before a game. For the last couple of years you've had lasagne for brekky on game-day?
BJ: Yeah, I have it for brekky and dinner before. I'm a big lasagne dude. Dad has a lot of pride in making it the night before, gets the family to rank it, and gets people to come over and rank it, and it's just become a weekly thing. I love that habit.
JR: Thanks Blake for taking the time to chat.
BJ: That was great bro, appreciate it.
