Essendon captain Jobe Watson is bucking the club’s trend of bulking up, but is hoping there will be more muscle to the Bombers’ AFL premiership campaign.

Watson says the Bombers are in better physical shape than they were last year when they just squeezed into the finals in eighth position.

While several other Essendon midfielders have built up, Watson is cautious about adding to his frame, which is listed at 94kg.

“I was starting to and then I thought I was probably getting a bit heavy so I might have to knock it back,” Watson said.

“But we’ve had a lot of guys that have put on some size and that was the intention.

“Hopefully it means that their bodies handle a full year.”

Following a second pre-season under coach James Hird, Watson is optimistic Essendon will improve on their 2011 performance.

“I feel like were in a better physical shape than what we were 12 months ago, I think that the list is healthier,” Watson said.

“I think the natural progression is we’re going to get better.

“We haven’t talked about a ladder position or anything like that and I don’t think you want to.

“You don’t want to put a cap on where you want to finish.”