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Thursday, July 3rd, 2008 at 9:47 am
BY STEPHEN BAKER
ESSENDON midfielder Jobe Watson has signed a new two-year deal with the Bombers, tying him to Windy Hill until the end of the 2010 season.
Team Manager David Calthorpe said that the latest Watson to don the red and black was very much a part of Essendon’s premiership aspirations.
“In the past two years, he has improved considerably as a player and at just 23 years old, he will be a key part of the Essendon midfield for years to come.”
“We believe he will play a big role in our next premiership tilt,” said Calthorpe.
The Bombers team manager said he was proud to be see another member of the Watson family adding to Essendon’s illustrious history.
“One of this club’s pillars is heritage and tradition and with Jobe’s father Tim also having a distinguished career in red and black, this contract is a significant and important boost for Essendon.”
Have your say, FootyHeads!
Sunday, June 29th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
BY STEPHEN BAKER
ESSENDON have made it three wins in a row after toppling an undermanned Fremantle at Subiaco this afternoon.
The Bombers ran out winners in a nail-biting last quarter winning the match by four points.
Matthew Pavlich was the major focal point up forward for the Dockers, finishing with six goals, while for the Bombers, the goalkicking hounours were shared between four seperate players.
For Fremantle, Aaron Sandilands battled hard all day, finishing the match with 25 possessions, and Chris Mayne continued to impress with a 22-disposal and two goal effort.
Essendon’s Mark McVeigh rediscovered his pre-hamstring injury form collecting an equal game-high 36 possessions, shared by Jobe Watson.
The speedy Leroy Jetta and Kyle Reimers also showed plenty of promise and demonstrated why the Don’s hierarchy rate them as stars of the future with strong performances.
Dustin Fletcher dislocated a finger just prior to half time and took no further part in the match.
Fremantle were also hit hard by injuries, with Roger Hayden, Ryley Dunn and Ryan Crowley off the field and restricting the Dockers to just one interchange spot for most of the second half.
The news doesn’t get any better for the Dockers, with a trip to the Cattery their next engagement in a fortnight’s time.
Essendon, meanwhile, stands to make it four wins on the trot, with their next opponent being the Brisbane Lions at the Telstra Dome in round 15.
FINAL SCORES:
FREMANTLE 13.13.91
def by
ESSENDON: 14.11.95
GOALKICKERS:
ESSENDON: Stanton 2, Hille 2, Ramanauskas 2, Lucas 2, McVeigh, McPhee, Lovett, Lloyd, Lonergan, Reimers.
FREMANTLE: Pavlich 6, Mayne 2, Tarrant 2, Solomon, Carr, Hinkley.
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Sunday, June 29th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
BY STEPHEN BAKER
FREMANTLE and Essendon have been forced to make late changes to their line-ups ahead of today’s clash at Subiaco.
Luke McPharlin comes out of the selected side and Josh Head will make his debut.
Former Essendon hardman, Mark Johnson will notch-up game number 200 today when he squares off against his old club in a match experts predict could be a fiery encounter.
Both Johnson and recent Windy Hill discards Kepler Bradley and Dean Solomon will be looking to get one back on their old clubs, as will former favourite son, and three-time premiership player, now Dockers coach, Mark Harvey.
Essendon, meanwhile, have left out promising forward Jay Neagle, while fan favourite Damien Peverill will come in for game number 137.
Sportsbet has installed Fremantle as firm favourites with punters still coming for the Dockers at $1.50, while the Bombers, despite recent wins over the Eagles and Carlton are seen as rank outsiders at $2.65.
FOOTYHEADS: Can Essendon beat a pumped up Dockers side?
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Monday, June 23rd, 2008 at 6:16 pm
BY FRANK IENCO
Essendon utility player Andrew Welsh believes the Bombers resiliance against a last quarter fightback by Carlton yesterday is an indication of the development of the side’s younger players.
With the Bombers winning their second straight match following eight straight defeats, Welsh says it was great to see the team’s youngsters being rewarded for their efforts.
“They have really been plugging away and not going into their shells which is great because it’s easy for guys in their first few years to go into their shells when times are tough,” he said.
“But to see them challenged like that (in the match against Carlton), and for guys like Kyle Reimers and David Myers to stand up and surge again, shows the development of these guys.”
Welsh, who restricted the Blues Chris Judd to just 12 disposals yesterday, says he is enjoying the new tagging role he has been given over the past three weeks.
“The start of the season was a bit interesting for me because one week I was lining up at half-forward and the next week at half-back,” he said ”but settling into a role and really focusing on that has been enjoyable so far”.
Have your say, FootyHeads!
Thursday, June 19th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
BY FRANK IENCO
Essendon coach Matthew Knights admits his side will need to do a lot more than just shut down Brendan Fevola to beat the Blues at the MCG this Sunday.
While acknowledging Fevola, who kicked eight goals in last Sunday’s match against Collingwood, is an important part of Carlton’s set-up, Knights said the Blues were even across the the ground.
“We can’t focus on Fevola because it will leave others open but he is a significant player,” he said. ”He’s a big part of the way we’re planning but they’ve got a midfield that is providing great inside 50 work.”
“What they are getting is a really even contribution at the moment from a lot of players and that’s really significant for them.”
The two sides have already met once this season, with the Bombers prevailing by 16 points in round three.
Have your say, FootyHeads!
Wednesday, June 11th, 2008 at 10:43 am
BY BRAD KLIBANSKY
ESSENDON coach Matthew Knights has once again been forced to defend under- fire captain Matthew Lloyd.
As reported in today’s Herald Sun, Knights said the club was satisfied with Lloyd’s performances and urged Bombers fans to lower their expectations.
“He’s got the full support of the coach, the players, the whole club,” Knights said yesterday.
“He’ll be fine, he’s a very resilient character. We speak on a weekly basis - he’ll be fine. He’ll come back into some decent form.”
Lloyd, a five-time All-Australian who earns more than $500,000 a year, has been the target of criticism this season after booting 26 goals in 10 games to take his career tally to 855 - ninth on the all-time list.
FOOTYHEADS, is Matthew Lloyd finished?
Have your say, FootyHeads!
Thursday, June 5th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
BY BRAD KLIBANSKY
ESSENDON coach Matthew Knights expects his side to face a tough and fired up Hawthorn team on Saturday night.
Speaking from Bombers training today, Knights said he thought last week’s result against the Western Bulldogs would sting the Hawks into action.
“I watched the entire game. It was a pretty hard, difficult contest, and obviously the Western Bulldogs are a very good side, so you would think that would be enough stimulus for Hawthorn to come out and play strong footy,” he said.
“We’d expect them to be on the top of their game. We’re looking forward to it.”
Have your say, FootyHeads!
Thursday, June 5th, 2008 at 7:20 am
BY ALANA LAKELAND and STEPHEN BAKER
ESSENDON management and champion forward Scott Lucas could be on a collision course over his playing future at the club beyond the end of 2008.
Lucas, who is set to play his 250th game against Hawthorn at the Telstra Dome on Saturday night, is out of contract at the end of the season.
The Bombers, vigorously pursing a youth policy as they re-build their list, are understood to be firm in their resolve to only offer the two-time Crichton Medalist a one-year deal.
Lucas, who turns thirty one in December this year, is however, equally determined to finalise a longer-term deal that ensures he sees out his playing days at Windy Hill.
“I’d certainly like to organise something that sees it beyond doubt that I’ll be here to the end,” Lucas said yesterday.
Bombers coach, Matthew Knights, refused to answer questions about Lucas’ contractual position yesterday, but said that he was in no way considering trading his star forward.
“I wouldn’t dare consider trading Scott Lucas, because I think the fabric of the club is important,” he said.
“At our club, one of its pillars is community and Scott’s been a great big part of the Essendon community for a long time, so that’s important to us.”
Despite Knights’ desire to keep Lucas at Essendon, a Melbourne radio personality today suggested that board members were confident that Lucas’ management would “cave” and accept a one-year deal.
FootyHeads, How many years do you think Essendon should offer Lucas?
Have your say, FootyHeads!
Wednesday, May 28th, 2008 at 11:12 am
BY BRAD KLIBANSKY
ESSENDON veteran Scott Lucas is a “very good chance” to play against Adelaide on Friday night.
Lucas has not played since injuring his posterior cruciate ligament in the Bombers’ round one win over North Melbourne.
Speaking from training this morning Bombers coach Matthew Knights said Lucas was a good chance of returning, after a successful rehabilitation program.
“The way Scott has attacked his rehab has been enormous,” Knights said.
“At this stage he’s been selected in the 22 to play.”
“We’ve got our last training session tomorrow morning [and] if he comes through that with flying colours he’ll play in the 22 on Friday night.”
Have your say, FootyHeads!
Wednesday, May 28th, 2008 at 9:09 am
BY BRAD KLIBANSKY
ESSENDON are set to make a play for an out- of- contract marquee player at season’s end.
As today’s Australian reported, the Bombers are understood to have unprecedented room beneath the salary cap to make a play for an elite player coming off contract.
Essendon would not comment yesterday, the club has gradually reduced its player payments by comparison with the rest of the competition over the past two years.
In 2006, Essendon had the fourth-highest payroll in the AFL. That rank was down to six last year and it is believed it has fallen again this season.
Have your say, FootyHeads!
Friday, May 23rd, 2008 at 3:12 pm
BY STEPHEN BAKER
RICHMOND utility, Richard Tambling, has said that tomorrow night’s Dreamtime at the G match against Essendon, is the Tigers “Anzac Day game”.
“We don’t have an Anzac Day (match) and I’ll bet everyone out there and all the other sixteen clubs wouldn’t mind playing in the Anzac Day match,” he said.
For the first time in a number of years, the Tigers head into a potential blockbuster as raging favorites and Tambling taken at number four selection in the 2005 National Draft, believes that his side is looking forward to the chance to play in front of big crowd with an electric atmosphere.
“This is one of those matches where it’s pretty big for Richmond and pretty big for the people it represents,” he said.
“It’s definitely a huge match for Richmond and this is one of our biggest games of the year.”
Sportsbet has installed Richmond as white-hot favourites for the Dreamtime at the G match, with the Tigers at $1.30 against Essendon at $3.65 in head-to-head betting.
Have your say, FootyHeads!
Friday, May 16th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
BY STEPHEN BAKER
CHANNEL Seven has decided to show the Sydney Swans versus Essendon game on a one hour delay, despite the match being played interstate.
Seven forms one half of the AFL’s TV broadcast partnership with cable TV network, Foxtel.
The network regularly screens Sunday AFL games on delay at 3pm, with the majority of games chosen for broadcast involving matches in Melbourne.
Seven has long held a policy of not broadcasting against the gate in order to maximise attendances at grounds
A statement released by the network today said that “in order to keep a consistent timeslot in our Sunday AFL programming, Channel Seven will show the Sydney-Essendon match at 3pm in Melbourne.”
League chief, Andrew Demetriou today defended the move.
“There must be a very good reason, but I suspect that it’s probably due to another commitment,” he said.
“It doesn’t happen that often. Seven’s a great broadcast partner and they’ve obviously got some legitimate reason for that.”
Seven will screen a replay of the classic 1996 preliminary final between Sydney and Essendon from 2pm.
FOOTYHEADS: Should Sydney versus Essendon be shown live into Melbourne instead of on delay?
Have your say, FootyHeads!
Wednesday, May 14th, 2008 at 11:43 am
BY BRAD KLIBANSKY
ESSENDON managing director Peter Jackson has backed coach Matthew Knights, after the rookie coach blasted chairman Ray Horsburgh for comments made about the future of two senior players.
Speaking from Windy Hill today, where the Bombers unveiled former coach and club legend Kevin Sheedy as the club’s 40 000th member, Jackson said the issue between Knights and Horsburgh had been resolved.
“We had a meeting yesterday, and the issue has been resolved,” Jackson said
“We are moving on as a club and we know where we are going.”
Have your say, FootyHeads!
Wednesday, May 14th, 2008 at 7:48 am
BY STEPHEN BAKER
ESSENDON is in turmoil today with coach, Matthew Knights, and chairman, Ray Horsburgh, at loggerheads over the chairman’s public comments on the club’s playing list.
In an article in yesterday’s Herald Sun newspaper, the chairman effectively ended the playing careers of Jason Johnson and Damien Peverill.
While Knights said that opportunities at senior level would be limited for the pair in 2008, Horsburgh went one better, telling the paper that “both are warriors, but you’ve got to win a flag and they are not going to win us one.”
Horsburgh also said that the club will adopt a policy of aggressively pursuing player trades for high draft picks similar to arch-rival, Hawthorn.
Speaking to media yesterday, Knights said that he wasn’t happy with his chairman’s comments.
When asked if he would have preferred for Horsburgh to keep out of on-field matters Knights said “I think that would be utopia, there’s no doubt about that.”
The new Bombers coach said he was disappointed with the details of the coaching panel’s call on dual best and fairest Johnson and Peverill being made so public.
“I’m disappointed the way it has played out, particularly for Jason and ‘Pev’ because they’ve been fantastic, superb players for this footy club,” he said.
Knights said that in his eyes, their careers were not necessarily over.
“No, I don’t think players’ careers are on the line, we won’t be making any judgments on players careers until the end of the year, until I’ve had a full season of players.”
Knights also denied that his club would be “trading aggressively” as suggested by Horsburgh.
“As a club, we will look to add to our list with more youth this year at the draft, so I wouldn’t have thought we’d be trading aggressively,” he said.
“Possibly, what Ray may have been referring to is that last year, we had probably eight changes on our list.”
“I guess Ray would see that as being aggressive…”
FOOTYHEADS: Has Ray Horsburgh overstepped the mark? Should Essendon off-load some ageing superstars for high draft picks? Who should stay and who should go if the club decides to do a clean-out at season’s end?
Have your say, FootyHeads!
Tuesday, May 13th, 2008 at 9:00 am
BY FRANK IENCO
THE Sydney Swans will send representatives this week to examine their controversial second home base, ANZ Stadium, ahead of this Sunday’s match against Essendon at the venue.
It will be the first match played at the ground since Swans spearhead Barry Hall broke his wrist after crashing into an advertising hoarding in the round 4 win over the West Coast Eagles.
Padding will now be added to the temporary fencing and signage, which is specially used for AFL matches as some seats are rolled back to allow for the extra field space.
Sydney’s Daily Telegraph reports NRL clubs have also raised concerns over the stadium’s surface, with two rugby league matches and an AFL reserves game taking place within 24 hours of the Swans and the Bombers taking the field.
But Swans coach Paul Roos believes the stadium will be fine for Sunday’s match and says the club usually checks on the condition of the ground.
“We usually send somebody out to look at it,” Roos said.
“(Swans football manager) Andrew Ireland will probably do that this week but we’re confident things will work out,” he said. ”They (ANZ Stadium) usually prepare it pretty well for us.”
Have your say, FootyHeads!
Thursday, May 1st, 2008 at 7:38 am
BY STEPHEN BAKER
THE Daniher name is set to continue at Windy Hill when the next generation of the Ungarie football dynasty makes his debut on Sunday.
Darcy Daniher, son of Anthony, will step out for the Bombers on Sunday when they take on Port Adelaide at the Telstra Dome.
“There is a proud tradition at Essendon,” said Daniher.
“I am very proud to be running out with the team.”
Darcy’s father, Anthony, said that his son’s senior debut would be a big occasion for the family.
“We are thrilled for him, we’re very proud of him,” he said.
“He has worked very hard. That it has come this early in his career, it’s come, so you deal with it.”
Daniher has overcome a pre-season shoulder injury sustained in a tackling drill to make a big impact for the Bendigo Bombers, and his senior selection has been fast-tracked following a raft of injuries at Essendon.
Essendon football manager, David Calthorpe, said that Daniher earned his opportunity despite the Bombers extensive casualty list.
“Darcy has been one of our best performed key position players for Bendigo and he deserves this opportunity to show his talent at senior level,” he said.
Have your say, FootyHeads!
Thursday, May 1st, 2008 at 7:27 am
BY STEPHEN BAKER
ESSENDON had been rocked by yet another injury to an emerging speed machine.
An integral part of the Bombers new “brutal running game”, Courtenay Dempsey has been diagnosed with shin splints on the eve of coming back into senior calculations after injuring his hamstring last month.
The club believes that he will miss between two and three weeks.
Essendon football manager David Calthorpe said that Dempsey was determined to stay positive despite the setback.
“The injury has only just been discovered and it is disappointing for Courtenay because he was at the end of his hamstring and was ready to resume playing,” he told Essendonfc.com.au.
“He is naturally disappointed but he has a good attitude and will now put his head down and focus on getting his body right.”
Dempsey’s latest injury setback comes less than a week since the devastating news that hard-running Alwyn Davey will miss the remainder of 2008 with a knee ligament tear.
The club has also been hit hard by long term injuries to Scott Lucas and a raft of soft tissue injuries to key players Dustin Fletcher, Mark McVeigh, Damien Peverill and Leroy Jetta.
Have your say, FootyHeads!
Friday, April 25th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
BY STEPHEN BAKER
COLLINGWOOD has smashed Essendon to the tune of seventy-three points at the MCG in today’s ANZAC Day blockbuster.
The Magpies won the match 23.16.154 to Essendon, 12.9.81.
In front of almost 90,000 people, Collingwood put on an awesome display to level their season at three wins and three losses.
The emphatic win, notable also for the fact that power forward Anthony Rocca watched the game from the stands will go some way to silencing the doubters who started to gather after losses to Carlton and North Melbourne in their last two outings.
The Magpies trounced Essendon in forward fifty entries sixty-seven to forty and dominated the uncontested possession count 250 to 200.
The pies also dominated the contested ball 114 to 91.
ANZAC Day medalist, Paul Medhurst, was sensational up forward for Collingwood, finishing the game with six goals and seventeen disposals in a golden day for the Magpies.
It was also a sensational return to form for Collingwood’s Scott Pendlebury who controlled their midfield, collecting thirty-three disposals in the win.
Shane O’Bree and Alan Didak were also outstanding for Collingwood with twenty-six and twenty-five disposals respectively.
Travis Cloke was instrumental in many of Collingwood’s forward forays, finishing with five goals and Leon Davis electrified the Magpie faithful with three goals.
The Magpies capitalised on Essendon’s woeful skill level, punishing them on the scoreboard with nearly every Bomber turnover and were dominant all over the ground.
It was a dirty day for the Bombers, meanwhile, with a number of key players missing or soundly beaten by their opponents.
Their much-vaunted pace and “brutal running game” was non-existent and Essendon’s major stat winners exerted little or no influence on the game.
The frustrating Courtney Johns found himself on report for charging Scott Pendlebury in the opening quarter, and Adam McPhee is sure to come under the scrutiny of the match review panel, also for a first quarter incident involving Paul Medhurst.
In their first ANZAC Day outing since the retirement of the inspirational James Hird, the Bombers were bereft of leadership, with Lloyd, Fletcher, Ramanauskas, Welsh and McPhee well beaten by their opponents.
Despite a three goal-haul, Lloyd was well-beaten by Magpies’ defensive sensation, Nathan Brown.
COLLINGWOOD 23.16.154
ESSENDON 12.9.81
GOALS:
COLLINGWOOD - Medhurst, 6, Cloke, 5, Davis, Lockyer, 3, Didak, Swan, Thomas, Johnson, Goldsack, Wood, 1
ESSENDON: Lloyd, 3, Stanton, Nash, Michael, Welsh, Dyson, Fletcher, Reimers, Johns, Laycock, 1.
BEST:
COLLINGWOOD - Medhurst, Pendlebury, Cloke, O’Bree, Didak, Swan.
ESSENDON - Watson, Nash, Michael, Houli.
FOOTYHEADS: Give us your thought’s on today’s blockbuster at the MCG. Are Collingwood back? Are Essendon as bad as today’s effort? TELL US WHAT YOU THINK!
Have your say, FootyHeads!
Friday, April 25th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
BY STEPHEN BAKER
COURTNEY Johns has been reported for charging in today’s blockbuster at the MCG.
Johns was reported for charging Magpie midfielder, Scott Pendlebury, with less than six minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Bomber utility, Adam McPhee is also certain to come under the scrutiny of the AFL match review panel after his elbow made high contact with Collingwood’s Paul Medhurst mid-way through the opening stanza of today’s match.
Stay tuned for live updates, right here on FootyHeads!
Have your say, FootyHeads!
Friday, April 25th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
BY STEPHEN BAKER
ESSENDON midfielder, Mark McVeigh has praised the contribution of James Hird to the creation of the ANZAC Day football legacy.
Today marks the first ANZAC Day blockbuster without the inspirational Essendon skipper and triple ANZAC Day medalist, considered by some as the greatest Bomber to ever pull on a jumper.
Speaking on ABC radio today, McVeigh said that the loss of Hird would be felt today.
“(Today) is his first day back (at the club) this year and I think the players are very happy that he’s here to address them before the game” he said.
McVeigh said that Hird’s legendary ANZAC Day feats were something special that will live on in the memory of Bomber supporters around the country.
“He just had a confidence that he could really lift the team no matter what, and he could be the best player on the ground.”
“He’s a very humble man but his self-confidence within his ability to play football and do the key things at the right time is as good as anyone,” he said.
“I know that I can take a lot from him and hopefully I can take ten percent of him and put it into my football.”
“He was very passionate about Essendon, he’s very passionate about his football and it’s sad that he’s gone because he just meant so much to people at the club and gave so much,” said McVeigh.
Have your say, FootyHeads!
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