Essendon Bombers AFL News

Essendon 2010 preview
WHO will kick the goals for the Bombers this season? See all the big issues and key players for Essendon 2010. »
Added: 2 days ago, Source: News.com.au

Training Report - 19/3/10
By jackie mihocek Training in showery conditions at Windy Hill. For the first time that I can remember a woman has taken about half of the one hour training session which makes it an historic occasion in my book. Dee is one of the high performance fitness advisors/rehab specialists at the club. Someone may post a photo of her but to put you in the picture she has an intense dedication to her job which she manages to do with an appropriate degree of humour and relaxation. Her distinguishing feature is a stylish chestnut helmet of hair which unfortunately gets hidden sometimes by the ubiquitous baseball cap. Dee put the entire group through a systematic series of well planned drills emphasizing stretching and running techniques giving clear commands to her charges punctuated with flashing smiles to which the players responded like cubs to a den mother. Highlight was the “Fletch handshake drill” so named because she chose Dustin for the demonstration. They stood facing each other on one leg – the stork and the ibis – and Dee extended a hand which Fletch grasped in a handshake. They then proceeded to tussle in this stance until Dustin lost balance and had to plant his foot to the amusement of the assembled throng. Players then broke into pairs and practiced trying to maintain balance. Eventually when her time was up the players went onto the usual handball and passing drills with the other coaches with gusto. In the modified group Tyson Slattery showed he is not far away from overcoming his wrist injury by marking with both hands – Jetta will take a little longer. Hurley arrived later at training – Dee put him through some three quarter pace running and sideways movement tests which he coped with quite well. Nothing serious here as he joined in the rest of the training. I guess what we saw today opens the debate about how far women can go in the football department. A big tick to day for Dee’s efforts but could a woman ever coach a league team? Sandra Bullock gets fairly close in “Blindside” – its already become a favourite movie of mine but I guess I would go to see her even if she wasn’t coaching – she has many talents. Click Here for the BomberBlitz.com Forum Thread »
Added: 2 days ago, Source: Bomber Blitz

Essendon season preview
WILL Matthew Knights' cleanout pay off for the Bombers? Debate with Jackie Epstein from 11am Thursday. »
Added: 3 days ago, Source: News.com.au

Training Report - 15/3/10
By jackie mihocek Training in fine conditions at Windy Hill. A brief 45 minute session mainly run by the fitness staff. Laycock looked longingly at the modified group and Neagle did some experimental hobbling after a knock to the leg in a soccer game but neither was allowed to join which just left the wrist injured Tyson Slattery and Jedda to do some desultory one handed work with each other in front of the soon to be doomed bowling club. It was not a serious workout today – the players broke into some fairly disorganised soccer groups – a sport at which they displayed little skill but quite a bit of enjoyment. If someone gets hit on the groin with the ball players on both sides let out an almost choreographed groan in unison unlike the slightly hysterical laughter which greets a similar occurrence in cricket. Houli was my B.O.G. for the soccer. Players spread into two lines or small groups for handballs and short kicking drills. As ANT555 pointed out the value of learning to kick the ball for 10 metres is not useful for match situations where 15 metres is the obvious useful minimum distance nor is it as good as players standing 5 metres apart to smarten up marking reflexes. The session ended with every player trying to kick the ball into a wheely bin – David Myers being the only one to achieve the feat. His excitement showed that it was the highlight of his pre-season which has recently been marred by his hamstring injury. As you can see it was a lighthearted training session – presumably a small reward for a pretty good pre-season where they managed to fit everyone in for two or three games and have had the best run with injuries for a decade. If you have read this you will realise that this is a report about nothing happening but the mood amongst the players seems buoyant and in this case no news might very well be seen as good news. The bad news is that there is no good news but the good news is that there is no bad news. Click Here for the BomberBlitz.com Forum Thread »
Added: 6 days ago, Source: Bomber Blitz

NAB Challenge - Richmond Match Review
Essendon rounded off their 2010 AFL Pre-Season campaign with a thumping 74 point victory over Richmond on Saturday afternoon. ESSENDON 5.3 12.4 16.7 23.9 (147) RICHMOND 2.3 5.4 11.5 11.6 (72) Goals: Essendon: D Zaharakis 3 A Monfries 3 K Reimers 2 M Williams 2 S Gumbleton 2 P Ryder 2 J Winderlich 2 D Hille J Neagle H Hocking J Watson B Stanton C Dempsey A Welsh. Richmond: J Riewoldt 2 Roberts 2 T Hislop 2 M Morton 2 B Nason R Nahas T Vickery. Best: Essendon: S Gumbleton D Zaharakis D Fletcher B Stanton. Richmond: B Nason D Martin J Riewoldt R Tambling. Injuries: Nil. Reports: Nil. By micool few things i noticed from todays game Neagle, he annoys the fark out of me. What he looks like is if someone got David Hille and hammered him on the head so he was a foot shorter, same weight just shorter. he is too heavy especially considering how long he has been in the system, BUT he is an absolute gun, if he gets his body right he will kick 100 goals. Howlett, seems the goods, runs to the right spots and has good disposal I expect him to play quite a few games this year. Reminded me alot of Prismall didnt seem to get the hard ball (im not saying he is soft) but he works to position to make himself a good option Hardingham, seems to be a good players sometimes a bit flustered when kicking the ball. Reminds me alot of David king who used to play for North Melbourne. Provided alot of run off half back and can match it on the ground with a medium forward and in the air. Didnt see enough of him one out to get a good idea how he would go isolated. »
Added: 6 days ago, Source: Bomber Blitz

Myers cleared of hamstring tear
Essendon's David Myers has not torn his hamstring as first feared after the club's NAB Challenge match against the Sydney Swans »
Added: 2 days ago, Source: AFL.com.au

Near Full Strength Squad To Tackle Tigers
Essendon have named a near full-strength squad to take on Richmond at Morwell on Saturday afternoon in their final NAB Challenge practice match before the start of the 2010 AFL Season against Geelong in Round 1 on March 26. NAB CHALLENGE: Essendon v Richmond When: Saturday 13 March, 3.30pm Where: Morwell Recreation Reserve (Travers St, Morwell) 1. Jay NEAGLE 2. Ricky DYSON 3. Scott GUMBLETON 4. Jobe WATSON © 5. Brent STANTON 6. Angus MONFRIES 8. Jason WINDERLICH 9. Brent PRISMALL 11. David ZAHARAKIS 12. Andrew WELSH 14. Sam LONERGAN 15. Courtenay DEMPSEY 16. Tayte PEARS 17. Jake MELKSHAM 19. David HILLE 20. Henry SLATTERY 23. David MYERS 26. Cale HOOKER 27. Jason LAYCOCK 29. Alwyn DAVEY 30. Patrick RYDER 31. Dustin FLETCHER 33. Mark WILLIAMS 34. Kyle HARDINGHAM 37. Kyle REIMERS 39. Heath HOCKING 40. Ben HOWLETT 43. Bachar HOULI »
Added: 3 days ago, Source: Bomber Blitz

NAB Challenge - Sydney Match Review
Essendon slumped to an uninspiring 28 point defeat at the hands of the Sydney Swans in their NAB Challenge practice match in Blacktown on Saturday night. SYDNEY 2.3 7.5 10.6 14.7 (91) ESSENDON 0.3 1.4 6.7 9.9 (63) GOALS: Sydney: White 3, J Bolton 2, Jetta 2, Barlow, Hannebery, Goodes, Jack, Kennedy, Rohan, Seaby. Essendon: Houli 2, Neagle 2, Zaharakis 2, Carlisle, McVeigh, Laycock. BEST: Sydney: Goodes, J Bolton, Jetta, Rohan, White. Essendon: Davey, Houli, Laycock, Neagle, Zaharakis. INJURIES: Sydney: Mattner (ankle). Essendon: Myers (hamstring), Slattery (wrist). CROWD: 4122 at Blacktown Olympic Park. Match thoughts from Lifetime Ban Okay, just got back on board from the game and will try to give a sensible account of the proceedings. Before I do I want to add this bit of info. Went with my wife’s cousin who is a mad RL supporter, and his comment at the end was that the score really didn’t reflect how close a contest it actually was, and I tend to agree. Okay, from the players I can remember or name in no particular order. Gumbleton :- not great and by no means the great white hope tonight, but given he lasted the game, took some knocks, got some touches and scored a goal, a satisfying effort. Hardingham :- I am on this kids bandwagon. Given half a chance he is going to be a very good, and very exciting player. Fantastic leap, competitive, not afraid of going body on body, beat Goodes a couple of times in the air, colour me impressed. »
Added: 6 days ago, Source: Bomber Blitz

Bombers Ban Hurley For 3 Matches
Essendon have banned Michael Hurley for the first three rounds of the 2010 AFL Season after the club announced further sanctions from his much publicised “taxigate” incident. Hurley, 19, was charged with recklessly injuring an Indian taxi driver in an alleged attack outside a Hungry Jacks restaurant in the early hours of September 26 2009. The charge went before the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday, but the hearing was adjourned until June 11. The Bombers initially banned Hurley from participating in their 2010 NAB Cup campaign as punishment for his part in the incident, but announced further sanctions following Friday’s hearing. In addition to the three-match ban, Hurley will complete an alcohol counselling course and will be involved in no less than 20 hours’ additional community service during the 2010 season. »
Added: 6 days ago, Source: Bomber Blitz

Three-round ban for Hurley
Michael Hurley won't be available for senior selection until round four after Essendon announced further punishment for his attack on a taxi driver »
Added: 2 days ago, Source: AFL.com.au

Bombers Name Young Squad For Swans Practice Match
Essendon have named their squad to play Sydney in an NAB Challenge match at Blacktown this Saturday night. 2009 Draftees Anthony Long and Jake Carlisle will make their Bomber debuts along with Rookie List players Taite Silverlock and Marcus Marigliani. 1. Jay NEAGLE 2. Ricky DYSON 3. Scott GUMBLETON 9. Brent PRISMALL 10. Mark McVEIGH 11. David ZAHARAKIS 13. Anthony LONG 15. Courtenay DEMPSEY 17. Jake MELKSHAM 22. Jake CARLISLE 23. David MYERS 24. John WILLIAMS 25. Michael STILL 27. Jason LAYCOCK 28. Darcy DANIHER 29. Alwyn DAVEY 34. Kyle HARDINGHAM 35. Taite SILVERLOCK 36. Tyson SLATTERY 37. Kyle REIMERS 38. Jarrod ATKINSON 40. Ben HOWLETT 41. Michael QUINN 42. Nathan LOVETT-MURRAY 43. Bachar HOULI 44. Thomas BELLCHAMBERS 46. Christian BOCK 47. Marcus MARIGLIANI »
Added: 3 days ago, Source: Bomber Blitz

Jetta To Miss 4-6 Weeks
Essendon will be without Leroy Jetta for the start of the 2010 AFL season after news was revealed that he will have surgery on Tuesday to repair an injured thumb. Jetta dislocated a thumb during the VFL Practice Match between Bendigo & Coburg at Craigieburn on Friday. The 21-year-old midfielder is expected to miss 4-6 weeks with the injury. “It is disappointing for Leroy because he has had his best ever pre-season and unfortunately it is going to keep him out for a number of weeks,” Essendons general manager of football operations Paul Hamilton said. “He will be able to keep his fitness up, which you cant do with a leg injury, so we are lucky from that perspective. It is most disappointing from the perspective that he is a player that knows this is an important year for him and he wanted to get off to a good start and unfortunately it hasnt happened for him.” »
Added: 4 days ago, Source: Bomber Blitz