The Bomberopoulos Report

2008-09-01T08:53:00.006+10:00

FINAL SIREN FOR SEASON 2008

THE 21.21 (147) to 5.9 (39) landslide at the Concrete Dome was the Saints' biggest win ever over the Bombers and the margin could easily have been larger, given the number of simple shots for goal missed by St Kilda players.

It was a case of an in-form St Kilda side steaming towards the business end of the AFL season against an undermanned Essendon outfit for whom the year could not end quickly enough.

Bombers coach Matthew Knights believes his inexperienced and severely injury-weakened team never stopped trying, but were unable to physically match the Saints, who needed to win big and did.

“St Kilda were up and running and wanting the double chance, and we probably had six to eight blokes that probably aren’t up to league footy. Whether they are old or young or their physical capabilities aren’t up to it, compared to the team we played today,” O’Donnell said.

“It’s disappointing to fall away the way we did but hopefully it will teach the young blokes, that haven’t played much footy, that footy is a tough, hard game and if you are a little bit off, a little underdone, if you haven’t got a real competitive streak in you then game will bite you. Hopefully the ones that do survive into the future on our list, that take us to our next premiership learn from today.” Gary O'Donnell said.

The team will learn some hard lessons according to Essendon assistant coach, Gary O’Donnell.

"Even in the third quarter there and the last quarter the boys were endeavouring and they were trying things," Knights said of a final term in which they were smashed 7.6 to 0.1.

"They were trying to generate run and movement and we just couldn't get any flow whatsoever ... we couldn't make anything work for us today.

"We were completely outpointed, St Kilda fixed up Adelaide good and proper last week and Adelaide have shown their formline was pretty good, so we were playing a side that was in pretty good nick." Knights said.

"Every player that represented our club today had that best intention to (give them a good send-off), it just didn't pan out like that, we didn't play well enough," he said.

"I know there's a lot of emotional players (in the rooms afterwards) that really do admire the four boys that are retiring.

"The performance wasn't good, but the four guys that played today that are retiring have done themselves proud and been wonderful people for the Essendon footy club and that's what it's about." Coach Matthew Knights said.

ESSENDON farewelled three favourites and a three-repeat champion yesterday.

The four players - Adam Ramanauskas, Jason Johnson, Damien Peverill and Mal Michael - did a lap of honour after a performance coach Matthew Knights described as "hugely disappointing".

Before the game, Knights invited former teammates, including James Hird, Stephen Alessio and Joe Misiti, into the final address to the players.

Knights also allowed recently retired Docker, Mark Johnson, and current Docker Dean Solomon into what was as emotional final day for the popular foursome.

Peverill, who is seeking another club next year, was brought to tears.

Farewell Essendonians.

WE turn our attention to next year - 2009 - trades & de-listings...

TIME for the rest of our boys to enjoy Mad-Monday and catch-up (with) to Andrew Lovett!

Cheers,

CHRISTOS BOMBEROPOULOS

2008-08-29T09:57:00.004+10:00

LAST ROUND & DRINKS FOR SOME

ESSENDON is set to farewell at least four players this week.

Great servants of our Club, the likes of courageous Adam Ramanauskas, who battled valiantly to get back to the Elite level after beating cancer. Farewell Rama, thanks for all the good times. Supporters can only wish you good health & a long life.

ANOTHER Club great - to move on - Jason Johnson. The number 14. Who can forget the grunt and powerful runs through the middle? The Greatest come-back game, quickly comes to mind. Cruelled by injury in his last two seasons and not helped by a personal grudge (that has never really been made public), held by the then Coach - Emperor Sheedy. Farewell JJ, how ironic, to have outlived Sheedy's tenure - when Kevin tried almost everything to ship you out!

Damien Peverill might be considered more than a little stiff to be shown the door. Not our most talented player, but has always shown a consistent and hard working ethic - both on and off the field. Something many footballers could take note of. Made the most of his chances, coming off the rookie list and played like he was born to wear the Red & Black - with outmost pride. See ya Pev.

Of course when we "snared" 3 time Premiership player, Mal Michael, we all knew that his best was well behind him, but the fact that we were able to piss-off Leigh Mongrel and the Bri$bane Lion$ - was PRICELESS! Having said that, Mal was serviceable in his first year, not only assisting/releasing Fletch down back, but most importantly with his vast experience & knowledge - that he has been able to impart on the young defenders. I believe there will be an assistants role made available next year, should you want it. Farewell.

Even though this isn't the right time to farewell those that "will" be de-listed, after-all I have heard some names come out of the club that would make your hair curl.

THE one name, thank-fully that is certain to be gone next year, Andrew Lovett...

All I can say is, "GET YOUR LIFE IN ORDER"!

Ross Lyon expects Dons to come out firing

ST KILDA coach Ross Lyon has warned his players they will face a dangerous Essendon, which will farewell three stalwarts on Sunday.

A week after lauding club great Robert Harvey, the Saints confront a Bombers team stirred to send-off Dons favourite Damien Peverill and premiership players Adam Ramanauskas and Jason Johnson at Telstra Dome.

Lyon said the Saints were mindful of what they were coming up against.

READ MORE

Essendon to win by 7 points!

ESSENDON
B: Henry Slattery , Nathan Lovett-Murray , Mark McVeigh
HB: Jay Nash , Patrick Ryder, Damien Peverill
C: Ricky Dyson, Jobe Watson , Andrew Lovett
HF: Jason Johnson, Matthew Lloyd, Angus Monfries
F: Sam Lonergan, Mal Michael, Adam Ramanauskas
Foll: Tom Bellchambers, Heath Hocking, Brent Stanton
Int: Jarrod Atkinson, Danny Chartres, Cale Hooker, Leroy Jetta, Rhys Magin, Kyle Reimers, John Williams

Int: Atkinson, Chartres, Jetta, Reimers, Williams
Out: Adam McPhee (ankle), Andrew Welsh (hamstring)

New: Danny Chartres (rookie list), John Williams (Morningside. Taken with pick 5 in 2007 draft)

ST KILDA
B: Sean Dempster, Sam Fisher, Jason Gram
HB: Brendon Goddard, Max Hudghton, Jason Blake
C: Sam Gilbert, Nick Dal Santo, Lenny Hayes
HF: Robert Harvey, Nick Riewoldt, Robert Eddy
F: Clint Jones, Justin Koschitzke, Adam Schneider
Foll: Steven King, Shane Birss, Leigh Montagna
Int: Stephen Milne, James Gwilt, Charlie Gardiner, David Armitage, Aaron Fiora, Raphael Clarke, Jarryd Allen

In: Fiora, Allen, Armitage
Out: - No Change

Cheers,

CHRISTOS BOMBEROPOULOS

2008-08-28T09:59:00.008+10:00

Bye-Bye Lovey

Mark RobinsonHE might've blown it, Andrew Lovett. At 25, and after four seasons and 65 games, Essendon's wayward match-winner will be put up for trade.

The question is why.

The answer is Lovett, like many players before him, has taken the game, his teammates and his club for granted.

Lovett is a young man who was born with talent, athleticism and a craving for the big stage. And yet, in the supposed prime-time of his footballing life, he has forced his club to put him on the trade table.

It's staggering he's let his opportunity to come to this.

This for a guy who won the Anzac Day Medal in his first handful of games for the Bombers in 2005, who turned himself from small forward to breakneck wingman, who plays the game in the most simplistic and pleasurable manner that you hope to dear God there's many more indigenous players just like him.

Even this year, on the night he shredded Carlton at the 'G in Round 3, fingers were crossed the penny might finally have dropped for him.

It was not to be. Indeed, it may never happen.

The criticism is he's lazy, won't stay committed and lacks discipline in different forms of his life.

He disrespects his teammates.

Twice this year the Bombers suspended him.

The first time was in the pre-season - for all of the pre-season matches - for missing an early-morning training session. The club won't confirm if alcohol was involved.

The second time was after missing another session, this time coach Matthew Knights confirming Lovett had been out the night before "socialising".

A big ground specialist, Lovett missed playing Richmond and Collingwood (Rounds 16-17). Essendon lost to the Tigers, but defeated the Pies.

Those incidents followed a much more volatile abuse incident and consequent court case, in 2006, involving an ex-girlfriend.

The oldest of eight children, Lovett also lost his father in the same year and was confronted with more harrowing personal news which he continues to deal with.

Throughout, the Bombers stuck by their troubled player, helping with counselling sessions.

High-performance manager John Quinn invited Lovett to live with him and his family as the footballer tried to get his life and career back on track. About the same time, Lovett told the Herald Sun he was suffering from depression.

Two years on, Lovett's career has spun to a standstill. He's made a mockery of the AFL Season Guide which described him: "Has the potential to be one of Essendon's stars."

Lovett played 16 games this year, but disappointed the coach in regards to professionalism - a buzz word in the new regime.

It's no certainty he will be traded and Lovett does not want to leave, but he will be dangled in any potential chase for West Coast's Daniel Kerr.

Knights hasn't oozed confidence when asked about Lovett, either.

"I had a chat with Andrew and his manager, where things are at, how he's played this year, how things have gone, where the club's heading, and no definitive decision have been made either way," he said.

"It would depend on what happens post-season, with how things evolve with how we're travelling."

No warmth there, I'm sorry.

For Lovett, the next two months are uncertain. He could do well to talk to Collingwood's Leon Davis.

Davis is 27. Two years ago, his career looked shot, and have a look at him now. All-Australian beckons.

The message is clear: it's never too late to change.

Don't know, however, if Knights would agree.

Bye-bye Lovey!

Had your chance(s) - muffed it...

Congratulations to Head Coach - Matthew Knights, in his first season. Matty has shown true leadership, intellect and courage. In dealing with Andrew Lovett.

WE are a club that has worked well with, past Legends & Champion Indigenous players - the likes of Long and Wanganeen. Do we not have some fine young, exciting talent at our club - in Ryder Davey and Jetta? Davey would have killed to play more games for the Red & Black this season, but cruelled with injury, has had to sit out and watch the disappointment that is Lovey. In fact, Lovey surely must have had a deteramental & demoralising effect on all the listed players (young & old), when they see one player with so much talent - think - he can do as he pleases and coast along...

It is a pity, though that McVeigh never grabbed him by the throat in the change rooms and straighten the "little romantic twit" out.

sumthink he may play elsewhere - not I - "BUYER BEWARE"!

Cheers,

CHRISTOS BOMBEROPOULOS

2008-08-22T22:33:00.004+10:00

Essendon and adidas sign four year agreement

FUCK YOU PUMA!

seriously.

fuck you - PUMA!

REVENGE is a dish, best served cold...

FUCK YOU, PUMA & YOUR - FUCKING CLASH GUERNSEY!

WE DO NOT FORGET.

WE have waited patiently for this day.

AND for your pathetic and destructive part in destroying a 133 year old, consecutively worn Guernsey - I say - FUCK OFF!

WELCOME TO ADIDAS...

one last time - FUCK YOU PUMA!

Essendon Football Club is proud to announce a new four-year partnership with adidas Australia.

From November 2008, adidas will become the club footwear and apparel partner.

Essendon joins Collingwood and Adelaide as AFL clubs benefiting from adidas technologies.

Other adidas sporting partners include the Australian Olympic Team, Cricket Australia, and global sporting giants Chelsea FC, Liverpool FC, AC Milan, the NBA and the All Blacks.

“adidas is extremely excited about the opportunity to be working with one of the most successful and iconic organisations in Australian sport,” commented Greg Kerr, adidas Area Pacific Managing Director.

“We hope this is a long and rewarding partnership into the future. Essendon embody a number of ideals which adidas values highly; success, community spirit and a willingness to challenge convention.

“Our approach to this partnership will be very transparent, we’ll listen to Essendon’s needs and incorporate feedback in apparel and footwear that will enable players to perform at their best.”

Essendon managing director, Peter Jackson, said adidas is a highly respected, premium sporting brand and is an important new sponsor for the club.

“Every sports fan knows that adidas is a very high quality, international brand that utilises cutting edge technology. Our players join an impressive stable of sporting stars and clubs from around the word to be supported by adidas and we are proud to welcome them to the club,” Mr Jackson said.

In season 2009 adidas will supply Essendon with a revolutionary new guernsey, aimed at maximising player comfort and performance.

To make tackling harder the garment is more fitted than traditional guernseys, a feature already incorporated into All Black’s on field apparel. The design also features adidas ForMotion™ technology, with panels placed in line with players muscular structure for freedom of movement and also a built in GPS device pocket, doing away with cumbersome vests.

adidas-Essendon products will be available to consumers in December 2008, from leading sporting goods retailers, adidas Sport Performance Centres and Essendon football club retail outlets.

FUCK YOU PUMA!

Cheers,

CHRISTOS BOMBEROPOULOS

2008-08-14T11:51:00.005+10:00

Former Essendon captains unite

There are 13 living former Essendon captains dating back to 1965 who stand alongside our current captain, Matthew Lloyd, as club greats.

The Lawdons will honour the magnificent contribution and commitment these men made to the Essendon Football Club at the Windy Hill Venue on Thursday 28th August.

Be a part of this special occasion and join coach Matthew Knights, club directors, Lawdons members and officials as they pay special tribute to ‘The captains of Essendon’.

Tony Charlton will be the Master of Ceremonies for the evening and will interview captains including; Ken Fraser (‘65–‘68), Don McKenzie (‘69), Barry Davis (‘70–‘71), Des Tuddenham (‘72–‘75), Graham Moss (‘76), Ken Fletcher (‘77–‘79), Simon Madden (‘80–‘81), Neale Daniher (‘82), Terry Daniher (‘83–‘88), Tim Watson (‘89–‘91), Gary O’Donnell (‘96–‘97), James Hird - subject to overseas commitments - (‘98–‘05), and Matthew Lloyd (‘06– ).

Tony will also introduce Essendon stalwart Jack Jones, who captained Essendon once and played in three premierships alongside Dick Reynolds (1946, 1949, 1950).

Date: Thursday 28 August 2008
Venue: Premiers Room, Windy Hill Venue, Napier St, Essendon
Time: 6.45pm for 7pm
Dress: Jacket and Tie
Cost: $80 per person (Lawdons financial members). $90 per person (non Financial Member) - Includes meal and beverages

For more information please contact Melissa Bell on 9230 0324.

All fund-raising profits will go to the Bill Hutchison Foundation, supporting a range of education, sport and anti-violence programs. The Bill Hutchison Foundation works to prevent harm to women, children and young people, and to help those who are too often on the margins of our society – Indigenous youngsters, kids from migrant communities and others who need support.

sumthink ESSENDONIAN - to support.

I'll definately be there!

Will you?

Lure of another AFL flag spurs Lloyd

Essendon captain Matthew Lloyd is considering extending his career in the hope of playing in a second AFL premiership.

The champion goal-kicker, who is in his 14th AFL season, will play his 250th game this Saturday against Adelaide at Telstra Dome.

READ MORE.

Cheers,

CHRISTOS BOMBEROPOULOS

2008-08-12T00:33:00.000+10:00

I’ll lead the invasion

KEVIN SHEEDY

AS EARLY as this week we could witness a truly historic moment. Not historic as in vaguely interesting but a once in a 100 years event.

Not historic as in vaguely interesting, or a bit exciting, but a once in a 100 years event.

Lance Franklin won’t just win the Coleman Medal this year, he will be the first indigenous footballer to kick 100 goals.

Never before has an indigenous footballer won the Coleman, let alone such a captivating young individual.

We have seen all types of exciting indigenous players, but this is different.

This could excite some super young kid in Arnhem Land or a remote community who will think, ‘I can do this’.

This isn’t Andrew McLeod’s Norm Smith Medals, or Adam Goodes’ Brownlow.

It is the I-can-kick-goals medal.

SHEEDY jump the fence, when Buddy kicks his ton, I'd like to see that!

Andrew Demetriou's face would drop (even further), even if he is living it up, in the RED Penthouses of far-away, Beijing...

Cheers,

CHRISTOS BOMBEROPOULOS

2008-08-05T09:42:00.006+10:00

CAPTAIN Lloyd is back

Mike Sheahan - HERALD SCUM

LUCKILY for Matthew Lloyd, he was at work at the MCG Saturday, for he may have knocked himself out at Telstra Dome - on the roof.

Lloyd soared to what he later described as the highest mark of his illustrious career en route to his sixth goal, underlining a remarkable return to favour.

Some of us - yes, "us" - feared for his future just eight weeks ago. Those with honour will own up, even if it's so much easier to back away from bold statements made in the electronic mediums.

I was in no doubt he was in trouble; it is now equally apparent he is back at or near his best.

In seven rounds since that fateful appraisal in the Herald Sun, Lloyd is averaging 17 possessions and 3.6 goals a game.

It is an amazing comeback for a 30-year-old in his 14th season.

It seems I was the lone voice on those reservations eight weeks ago, but, let's not rewrite history.

Lloydy, like Essendon, laboured during the first half of the season.

He looked cumbersome, struggled to keep his feet, lacked conviction overhead and even seemed to have lost power in his famous left leg.

He averaged 11 possessions in 10 appearances to Round 11, and had kicked 26.8.

I did make the concession back then that Lloyd was playing in a team averaging 44 inside 50s a week, 15th in the competition.

In the past seven rounds, the average has jumped to 56.4, equal with Geelong at the top of the table.

Essendon has won six of its past seven games, its only loss by four points to Richmond.

Only Geelong has performed better in that period.

The Lloyd resurgence certainly has shocked me and others in the wings.

He is marking on the lead, in packs and over packs, even pouncing on the spillage.

He also is kicking with what was his trademark power and accuracy.

His accuracy is outstanding at 51.14. That's a conversion rate of 80.6 per cent.

Lloyd might be in his best form and a 96-goal season.

Why? A mix of increased supply, improved confidence, renewed self-belief. He looks sleeker, sharper, and obviously is enjoying his work.

The whole Essendon story is a revelation, a credit to first-year coach Matthew Knights. The Bombers, remember, were 2-9, having lost eight in a row.

Knights stuck to his guns, the West Coast came at the right time and the rest is history.

When several clubs bemoan their injury list, they should check the Essendon figures.

Those missing against Melbourne on Saturday included Scott Lucas, Mark McVeigh, Kyle Reimers, David Myers, Alwyn Davey, Jay Neagle, Jason Winderlich and Scott Gumbleton.

Lucas has played nine games for the season, McVeigh 12, Davey five. Those three are among the club's seven or eight most important players.

Knights is doing it his way, and it's working. He is strong and resilient, and adventurous.

Andrew Lovett plays up, is suspended for two matches, Knights ignores the temptation to bend and the Bombers win without him.

In the form they're in, they can win three and maybe even all four of their remaining games. Four would earn them a finals berth, two or three would cement them as an emerging force.

Winners all round. Bar one.

NEVER, ever, right off a champion Mike Shite!

Great skippers are made as well as born

Robert Walls

Not all leaders are natural. Essendon's Matthew Lloyd and Hawthorn's Sam Mitchell are works in progress as captains. Their early days were spent focused on themselves. Nathan Buckley was the same.

Lloyd was the teenage superstar who just wanted to kick goals. He measured his success by the number of goals he kicked.

I fancy that in the early days, he would have preferred eight goals in a losing team to, say, two in a winning one.

He would know exactly where he sits on the all-time goalkicking records, and what his goalkicking average is, because that is important to him, but more and more, he is working for the team.

Age and experience bring wisdom and the ability to see the big picture. And the big picture is that football is a team game, and team players are the ones who win the most respect and admiration.

Bombers' middle men

Rohan Connolly

EVEN when Essendon was an indestructible force steamrolling its way through 24 wins in 25 matches back in 2000, it was in the midfield that opponents believed the Bombers were at their most vulnerable.

It was a view only reinforced over the next few seasons as the Dons slid steadily down the ladder, Kevin Sheedy's side routinely caught out for pace, hardness and skill in the engine room.

So there's a keen sense of irony that in the rebuilding of the Bombers under new coach Matthew Knights this season, it's precisely the same area of the ground that is rapidly becoming the cornerstone of an Essendon resurgence.

As the Dons have bounced back from a string of eight defeats with five wins and a narrow loss from their past six games, it's been the midfield leading the way, a unit opponents have found too difficult to counter with its balance of smart ruckwork, strength, speed and plenty of football smarts.

And not a little depth, either. At the start of 2008, with veterans Jason Johnson and Damien Peverill already told they would become second-stringers, it was the likes of Jason Winderlich and Alwyn Davey expected to become key men in a new-look engine room supervised by first-year assistant coach Scott Camporeale.

Instead, due to long-term injuries, that pair has barely been sighted. Bachar Houli, another likely prospect, got hurt. So did young gun David Myers. And Mark McVeigh, a real general in the centre square, has also been cut down, about to miss his third straight game.

But the Bomber midfield just bowls on regardless, propelled by a couple of familiar faces such as Jobe Watson and Brent Stanton, but also some like Sam Lonergan and Kyle Reimers, who at the beginning of this year would hardly have been seen as anything more than "bit" players.

There's Andrew Welsh, until this season a spare-parts man in either defence or midfield, thrown into the midfield mix in desperation against Hawthorn in round 11 in a run-with role, but over the past two months having become a lot more.

Andy Lovett returns against Melbourne today to add some more dash to the mix. Ricky Dyson does similarly. And the vastly improved Angus Monfries can also take a turn when he's not kicking goals and exerting forward line defensive pressure.

It's becoming a more than handy group, numerically and in quality. And it's being fed brilliantly by ruckman David Hille, in career-best form and a very popular tip for All-Australian selection.

Camporeale, himself only feeling his way in the coaching business in his first season as an assistant, is quietly satisfied with the jobs his young charges continue to get done.

"Obviously, our first half of the season wasn't great, and we lost a fair bit of personnel, which really hurts when you've got a young list, but from the Adelaide game (round 10) onwards, just with a few changes and a little bit of a different structure, things have really gone well," he says.

"Hille's in great form, and having a dominant ruckman is a real bonus, but when you also have four or five blokes like McVeigh, Welsh, Watson and Stanton all getting mid-20s disposals and four or five clearances each week, it's pretty hard for the opposition to match up.

"We've really upped the ante with our hard-ball wins. Our general clearance-rate has gone up considerably from the first six or seven games, when I think head-to-head, we only won the clearances in about two of those."

Senior coach Matthew Knights also this week pinpointed the Adelaide game as a real turning point, not just in terms of the win-loss ratio, but in the way his team, and midfield in particular, approached its football.

He's keen to dispel the widely held view that Essendon somehow changed its style in the face of some weekly beltings. The Bombers didn't suddenly become more defensive-minded. They've just learned on the job.

"I think as a whole team we got criticised for being unaccountable," Stanton says. "Getting that balance between offence and defence is probably the biggest thing we've come to realise and at the moment, it's paying off for us."

Knights believes his young onballers are fighting through tackles far better now. "Early in the season, we were getting pushed around, the ball was spilling out and the opposition were running away for easy goals. But we're learning to become stronger in the tackle and be more resilient when we've got the ball in combative situations," he says.

"We've been giving the players the same defensive action learning tools as we were pre-season. All they're doing is getting better at it."

And other aspects of the game, too. Watson and Hille are the AFL's premier ruck-rover combination, having combined 20 times this season for centre-bounce clearances, ahead of the likes of West Coast's Dean Cox and Matthew Priddis, and experienced Brisbane pair Jamie Charman and Simon Black.

Watson was already a renowned clearance player, but has become far more damaging with the improvement of his disposal, which is prolific at an average of 25, a massive 41 last week in the win over Collingwood.

Ditto Stanton, whose disposal numbers are roughly the same as last year, but whose effectiveness has increased dramatically. "I've worked fairly hard on it with Scott and Matthew, just trying to steady down in those last couple of steps before I kick, and it seems to be helping."

Welsh, one of the team elders these days at the grand old age of 25, says that improvement has been mirrored across the board.

"I think one of the big reasons the midfield is performing so well is that our skill level seems to be a lot higher," he says. "I think we've just worked that hard on the execution of our skills. 'Knighter' has been massive on it.

"We're not handballing behind players any more, we handball in front of them so they can run on to it. Same with the kicking. I think that's been a major part of the transformation."

The likes of Stanton and Watson have also been given considerable assistance by the rapid emergence of Reimers and Lonergan this season.

Now that the novelty of the precocious Reimers' orange boots has worn off somewhat, the football world is starting to appreciate his running, courage and football smarts. And Lonergan has come from nowhere. Dogged by injury, the young Tasmanian had played only one game in 2006. Now he's pivotal to the midfield equation with his hardness and work-rate.

"His dedication and hardness at the ball is a big trait for him," Stanton says. "He's a pretty strong guy, and he just takes the game on."

Says Welsh: "He just had a real mental mind shift over pre-season and trained really hard. He's a real hunter of the ball, like Simon Black, not someone who waits on the outside, he gets in and hunts it out. He's just what we need when we've got so many guys who are great at receiving and running and breaking the lines."

Then there's Welsh himself, whose string of opponents since the change of role mid-season have included Sam Mitchell, Priddis, Chris Judd, Rhys Palmer, Black, Luke Power, and last week, Scott Pendlebury. Welsh hasn't lowered his colours to any of them, and towelled a few.

"He's not only shutting blokes down, but getting high possessions and kicking goals," Camporeale says. "He's a real barometer for us. People talk about McVeigh in that sense, but I reckon 'Welshy' is another one of those guys who really steps up and takes the team with him. His running capacity is really good, he's one of the best kicks in the team, and he'd been thrown around a bit, it's been good just to find him a niche."

Welsh concedes his raging success in the new role might have surprised even him. "I'm really enjoying settling into a role week-in, week-out, which I probably haven't done in my whole career," he says.

"I think my endurance has always been there, but I've probably never used it as well as I could have. To play AFL, you've got to live and breathe it, and I probably wasn't living an elite sort of lifestyle.

"It's a total package, looking after your body. Things like Pilates. I used to hate it, never do it, but I've started seeing a guy off my own bat twice a week and it's been really beneficial. Just little things like that, diet, and thinking about your body 24 hours a day and not just a couple of days out from a game."

Welsh and Stanton are glowing about the influence of Camporeale, until the end of last season a teammate, and a former member of one of the great Carlton midfields featuring Greg Williams, Brett Ratten and Craig Bradley.

"He's an amazing thinker of the game," Welsh says. "He knows the running patterns and centre square set-ups, and he watches that much footage. The knowledge he's picked up not just from playing but in his first year as a coach is amazing."

"They're really coachable," Camporeale responds in kind of the midfield group. "They're always asking questions, always racking your brain for ideas."

And the former Blue, only fresh out of playing, is quickly discovering how much he enjoys passing them on. "Sometimes you get a bit animated, you sort of play through them at times," he laughs. "I wish I could still be out there, but I'm getting a real kick out of the way they're playing at the moment."

And it's safe to say, after a barren few years for Essendon and a midfield routinely pilloried, he's far from the only one.

ANALYSIS

MIDFIELD quality in AFL football is seen universally as an essential ingredient of team success. Funny, really, considering the bagging that isolated engine-room parts or functions seem to cop.

Ruckmen are just one example. Take Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse's still oft-quoted line about being better off with a cardboard cutout, after a game a few years back.

Or his own Josh Fraser's struggle for recognition in the role, the Magpies having preferred the less-talented pairing of Chris Bryan and Cameron Wood in last week's loss to Essendon.

Fraser was back in favour last night against Hawthorn, the Pies' duo having been taken apart by in-form Bomber David Hille, who played a critical role in the result.

Then there's the relationship between the ruckman, his on-ballers, and clearances. Sure, a win around the stoppages doesn't necessarily mean a win on the scoreboard, but it's a pretty handy start.

One popular school of thought says an advantage in the hitouts is a limited edge in that regard. There's some superficial evidence to back that up, Aaron Sandilands and Dean Cox leading the league for taps, their teams currently 14th and 15th, respectively.

Clearly, opposition on-ballers have been feeding frequently on the West Australian pair's ruckwork this year. But surely, a team is better served having possession delivered in a position it wants rather than where the other team planned it to go.

Which is what Essendon has been able to do with great effect these past couple of months, not only for the statistics charts, but the scoreboard as well.

Hille and the prolific Jobe Watson have combined for more centre clearances this season than any other pair in the competition, more than double the number for Geelong's Mark Blake with Cat pair Jimmy Bartel and Joel Corey, exactly double that of Hawthorn's Robert Campbell and Sam Mitchell.

And Essendon is making its wins at the stoppages count, second in the AFL for goals from clearances. If you think the Dons are scoring a lot of quick goals straight out of the middle, you're not mistaken, either, their ranking second again, Watson one of the best in the competition with 16, the Western Bulldogs' Adam Cooney the leader with 23.

The still unheralded Sam Lonergan is second for the Dons with 13, ruckman Hille third, and Leroy Jetta fifth, the gifted small man becoming an important forward-line figure with his tackling and defensive pressure.

The rankings for clearance wins at Essendon shows clearly the extent of the changing of the guard. Last year's top five were Watson, Damien Peverill, James Hird, Hille and Jason Laycock. In 2008, it's Watson, Hille, Lonergan, Mark McVeigh and Brent Stanton.

Not surprisingly, those five will all figure prominently in the Essendon best and fairest, along with Andrew Welsh, who has racked up the takeaway since his mid-season move to an on-ball role.

The midfield has been the cornerstone of Essendon's resurgence over the second half of the football year, its improved performance at the clearances crucial, and its senior ruckman Hille the single biggest influence on the team.

That Hille was able to produce another "blinder" last week against a team whose coach has continually thumbed his nose at the value of ruckwork would have given enormous satisfaction to rucking coaches and veterans of the role throughout the football world.

As would Watson's best-on-ground status to students of the stop-play in football. He was not only the game's leading possession winner with 41, but the leading clearance winner as well.

His side won the hitouts, the clearances, and consequently, won convincingly on the scoreboard. It's becoming a familiar story for Essendon. And you'll have trouble convincing the Bombers that those stats don't really matter.

Cheers,

CHRISTOS BOMBEROPOULOS

2008-08-03T18:28:00.003+10:00

PRAISE THE LLOYD...

& COACH!

CAPTAIN FANTASTIC

MELBOURNE coach Dean Bailey and Essendon coach Matthew Knights agreed that the increasing speed of the game meant the superboot forwards are back in town.

Matthew Lloyd turned back the clock with 8.1 at the MCG yesterday - the Bombers 16-point win keeping their slim finals hopes alive.

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Dons rally after Sylvia slips up

Melbourne has won just two games this season. For a few brief moments in the last quarter against Essendon, it looked like that tally was about to become three.

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Bombers' captain is really flying

Essendon captain Matthew Lloyd's stunning mark and eight-goal haul against Melbourne is evidence of the veteran living in the moment, according to coach Matthew Knights.

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Bomber skipper Lloyd climbs to the next level

At 30, veteran spearhead Matthew Lloyd is covering even more ground.

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Lloyd boots eight as Bombers see off Dees

Essendon skipper Matthew Lloyd wound back the clock by booting eight goals and taking a contender for mark of the year as the Bombers beat Melbourne by 16 points.

SEE you over in the West.

Where the Bombers will crush the spirit of the wingless Eagles - AGAIN - by 54 points.

Cheers,

CHRISTOS BOMBEROPOULOS

2008-07-29T18:05:00.005+10:00

FACING our Demons

SOME of us are still recovering from, the celebratory pots (& schooners), over the Magpie victory...

THE confirmation that the honest Bombers will more than probably bug a few more teams - before the season ends - is a beautiful thing!

Essendon selectors have some tough choices to make ahead of this week’s Clash for Cancer match against the AFashionistaL's - "CLASH TEAM" - Melbourne following a resounding victory over Collingwood on the weekend.

Andrew Lovett is NOT - and should not be - one of them!

Lovett is available for selection having served his two-week suspension for missing a training session.

LET THE BLOODY, SELFISH, DRUNKARD SIT OUT ONE (OR MORE) WEEK...

PROVE to US Lovey - that you are ready to DIE for the CLUB & not piss on us ALL!

Lovey with 28 Kicks & 6 Handballs, for a total of 34 disposals in the VFL, should be left to sit & wonder for a few more weeks and see if he is MENTALLY ready to PLAY for ESSENDON and the supporters?

TEAM Essendon (& CLUB) can wait for Andy!

Or, so I have been told...

Congrats to the leadership team & Coach Knights for making the tough decision to drop Lovett, we can win without BAGGAGE, we will not be in a hurry to bring Andrew back - yet.

TALK aboout REAL pressure & getting your name thrown up for selection, young midfielders Courtenay Dempsey and Heath Hocking will be thrown into the mix after putting in solid performances for Bendigo.

AFTER impressive performances, both players may be selected, rather than given another run with Bendigo - no disrespect intended - irrespective of their extended period on the sidelines through injury.

"Dempsey was very good actually. He came back from a long stint out and performed exceptionally well," Hickmott said.

"He can play the game and is a very smooth mover and he is disciplined in our set-ups and showed our other guys how to play wet weather footy by staying low with the footy.

“Hocking has also spent a lot of time out so, for him to come back and put in a solid performance, was exceptional. He got tired towards the end of the game but he was very good."

WE will & SHOULD ONLY play those that are 100% committed - to the greatest Club in the land - and assist in smashing Melbourne this week, to the tune of 96 points!

IF that means Andy sleeps in - well so be it - no great loss, but to himself...

WAKE-UP LOVETT...or fuck-off!

Cheers,

CHRISTOS BOMBEROPOULOS

2008-07-28T15:25:00.000+10:00

Ghost of Sheedy alive at Dons

WHEN Kevin Sheedy left Essendon, the trickery was presumed to have gone with him. Collingwood coach Michael Malthouse wonders whether it remains alive and well at Windy Hill.

Early this week Essendon released its injury list and it nearly spilt to two pages. Eighteen players were listed, and one more was out for disciplinary issues.

Matthew Knights lamented that he would likely have just 26 players at his disposal. Malthouse was surprised.

"I look at (Essendon's injury list) in its entirety. I don't look at what people tell me," Malthouse said.

"I look at their seconds and my forward scout watched their training during the week, and he sees 35 Essendon players training on their ground — 35, of which 11 are now playing in their (VFL affiliate) Bendigo side tomorrow.

"Eleven and 22 equals 33, I hope, that's 33 players they have got to pick from. It's hardly 24 or 25.

"All I go by is what our training scout says and look at the 35 options they have got to pick from and, one thing I know for sure, the 22 are very dangerous."

DAMN right, Mick!

VERY dangerous.

ESSENDON used this year's humiliating Anzac Day loss to Collingwood as extra motivation for Saturday's 48-point win at the MCG, which left Magpies coach Mick Malthouse questioning his side's depth of talent.

Bombers coach Matthew Knights said the win was "very satisfying" and a credit to the way his players bounced back after a deflating four-point loss to Richmond last week.

Essendon has now won five of its past six games and holds on to 12th spot on the ladder and the hope of playing finals in Knights' first year in charge.

After Collingwood cut the margin to three points early in the third term, the Bombers steadied through an Angus Monfries goal — the first of five consecutive Essendon goals that stretched the margin back out to 32 points.

The Magpies fought back early in the last term before the Bombers again steadied and went on to register their seventh win of the season.

"We didn't discuss it much, but we were bitterly disappointed with the way we played Anzac Day," Knights said after the game.

"We felt we just didn't take the game on enough and let Collingwood dictate, so we certainly came here today with a more aggressive mindset — to play on our terms and play it our way."

Knights dissected North Melbourne's three-goal win against the Magpies last week, but said Carlton's two wins over the Pies had also been carefully researched.

"We probably took a little bit more out of the two Carlton wins and felt we had to keep the speed on the game," he said. "And we had to give our forwards a look at (the ball) inside 50 in isolation because if Collingwood get back and team up in defence, they're really difficult to play against."

Matthew Lloyd was inspirational for the Bombers, leading hard, pushing up the ground and finishing with a goal in each quarter.

"The skipper played high up the ground and I'm thankful, as a coach, that he's really embraced that," Knights said.

He also praised the efforts of Andrew Welsh, who kicked four goals in a dominant display and Kyle Reimers, who finished with three goals from his 12 valuable disposals.

"He lives for the moment … that's the wonderful thing about coaching him," Knights said when asked about Reimers.

"He played forward and caused some trouble at times, then in the last quarter I put him on the wing because he was fresh and he kicked two goals early."

David Hille boosted his All-Australian prospects with another dominant ruck performance and had 24 disposals, while Jobe Watson collected a game-high 41 touches.

"Jobe, he's had a lot of criticism over the journey, but he continues to step up and it's nice to see him and (Brent) Stanton developing together and developing their game as midfielders," Knights said.

He said the side's recent good form was reflective of a more settled team and club, which had grown stronger in the face of adversity.

"When you lose (Mark) McVeigh and (Sam) Lonergan … on top of (Scott) Lucas, (Alwyn) Davey, (Courtenay) Dempsey and (Leroy) Jetta we lost our way.

"But, the football department and the players, the unity through that period was absolutely staggering … it was superb.

"Everyone continued to believe (in) the vision of the club. It's about bringing a young group through together, so when we get good, we stay good."

Malthouse was almost lost for words when asked what went wrong.

"Essendon were very good, we were very ordinary and the eight goals was very reflective of how they played and how we played," he said.

"We were extremely poor early … got back and gave it up again and never really got to the stage of putting enough together, we just seemed to give up soft goals.

"Quite frankly, I don't know whether we're good enough."

RIGHT again Mick!

COLLINGWOOD supporters must have a sinking feeling these days every time the Magpies are drawn to play a team they're supposed to beat. Even before yesterday's 48-point thumping at the hands of Essendon, the Pies had conceded five of their seven losses for the season to teams beneath them on the ladder.

READ more.

So much for top 4 and possibly even finals this year...Ha, ha, ha

Cheers,

CHRISTOS BOMBEROPOULOS

2008-07-24T18:08:00.001+10:00

SHEEDY SHOWS HIS TRUE COLOURS

IF Joel Bowden was playing in this year’s Grand Final and rushed a point as he did on Saturday, I would label him the ultimate hero.

HERO?

BAKER, on Grand Final day is a hero knackers.

You should know, you've lived off that one move for 27 years at Windy Hill - so have we...

We might not agree he should be allowed to do that under AFL rules but, until the league looks at it, it is totally legal.

THE truth be known, Bowden stumbled upon his...winning move! Not genius...

Which makes what Bowden did in the dying seconds against Essendon inspired.

It was smart thinking by an experienced player under pressure.

BULL!

It was pure luck. Get over it. How many times in the past old man have you stated, NO game is WON by one instance?

He had been dropped, then fought to get back into the team and has held his place.

When the game called for someone to hold their nerve, Bowden stood tall.

He was smart enough to play on to get the clock ticking, but realising there was no better option, held the ball up to trick people into thinking he might kick long.

It is a big tick for him - everyone talks about how he is not physical enough under pressure, but that’s not all there is to football.

How many times in footy are you called on to be smart?

NOT MANY IF ANY.

It's NOT rocket science mate, this is sport -pure & simple - that's why you are no longer a coach old boy.

Speakin' of which, old coach, how about you finally coming clean and stating you are now officialy a tool of the AFL!

IN the Biblical sense!

YOUR love of the Golden Calf & Golden Coin is EMBARASSING - fool!

No interchange expansions...WTF?

Seriously. After spending your entire coaching career pleading for an expanded bench!!!

But then again Bowden stumbling upon a winning strategy (SHEEDYS' PLAY OF THE DECADE!), forget about not playing in the "spirit" of the game, equals - GENIOUS...

WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON SHEEDS?

Your true MONETARY colours are finally coming through for ALL to see...

Go away Kev.

No-one gives a shit about StupidCoach, presented by, the HeraldScum.

FLETCHER ready to take Magpies apart

Dustin Fletcher will return from an ankle injury to replace Jay Neagle (who is out with a fractured ankle) in the only change to the Bombers’ team this week.

Andrew Welsh has recovered from a head knock and Angus Monfries has been named despite also suffering an ankle injury.

Team Essendon:

Backs: Atkinson Fletcher Nash
Half-backs: McPhee Ryder Slattery
Centreline: Reimers Watson Ramanauskas
Half-forwards: Monfries Lloyd Lucas
Forwards: Jetta Laycock Lonergan
Followers: Hille Welsh Stanton
Interchange: Michael Lovett-Murray Peverill Dyson

Emergencies: Hooker Magin Williams

Against the COLLINGWOOD OUTLAWS.

ESSENDON by 17 points.

Cheers,

CHRISTOS BOMBEROPOULOS

2008-07-21T10:30:00.000+10:00

MEANWHILE DOWN AT AFL HOUSE

THE AFL FASHION POLICE EXCERCISE THEIR COLLECTIVE MASS WEIGHT.

High-fives and slaps on well-oiled backs, all round, down at AFL House this morning as the lucrative over-seas, ratings results came in.

Proving - once and for all - that the 13,0469 viewers around the world, on the week-end, were able to distinguish between yellow and red!

Gillon McLachlan broke out the Don Perignon for breakfast in his King-size bed.

Adrian Anderson was urgently awoken before 10am to be given the good news.

"Anderson couldn't believe it" said Demetriou.

"Gillon was too excited to call, he actually wet himself, so as the Supreme Leader of all things AFL - I stepped in."

Demetriou also told of how everyone back at the now exclusive Docklands Club, was able to distinguish between the two teams on the massive HD Plasma screen and thoroughly enjoyed the spectacle, in the purpose-built, Million dollar theatre room.

"Although by the end of the first quarter, a few of us had a little-bit of trouble distinguishing certain scrimages & passages of play, but by then many of us had lost interest and began focusing on the topless wenches serving the FREE chardy's." Demetriou said.

WHEN asked what Demetriou thought about Joel Bowden's two rushed behinds that assured Richmond of its win over Essendon.

DEMETRIOU quizickly replied, "What? We ALL thought Essendon won!"

"Might have to change the colour of the Bomber Guernsey to Silver or Grey next Season. Gilly reckons Silver suits are huge in Rome and Milan this year." Demetriou said.

DON'S GO DOWN BY 4

Essendon assistant coach, Ashley Prescott, says disappointment is the over-riding emotion following today’s four point loss to Richmond.

“It was very disappointing not to get the win,” he said.

“In a sense you are proud that we were able to stick in the game and put ourselves in a winning position but we need to learn to take the opportunities when they are presented and make the most of them.

“We won the stoppage comprehensively in the first half and got the ball inside 50 but couldn’t take the marks and convert them to shots on goal.

“Richmond rebounded and got the ball into their forwards.”

Prescott refused to blame the first quarter injury to Welsh and second quarter injury to Monfries for the loss but said it did cause problems.

“When you lose player early it leaves you short and affects your rotations,” he said.

“There is no doubt we had to throw a lot of players into different positions and be creative with our rotations which gave some players some great challenges but spread the load to 19 men.

“I thought Lonergan was again extremely courageous and desperate and McPhee’s second half was good. Watson got his hands on the ball and won a lot of clearances. Stanton was solid for each quarter and Ryder tried very hard on a variety of opponents. Also I liked Mal’s game after being out for four weeks.”

CLASH THRILLER AT THE G

Nathan Brown's three final-quarter goals have led Richmond to a narrow four-point victory over Essendon in an exciting tussle at the MCG on Saturday.

With Terry Wallace in the coaches' box after a health scare during the week, the Tigers kept in touch with the top eight and all but ended the Bombers' finals hopes with a 16.12 (108) to 15.14 (104) win.

Like so often in the past, however, Richmond gave its multitude of fans some anxious moments when it blew a 29-point buffer late in the second term to see its lead evaporate by three-quarter time.

The Bombers booted six straight goals to wipe out the deficit and grab the lead midway through the third term.

The turnaround was even more stunning given Essendon had just one fit player on the bench for most of the second half, with Andrew Welsh concussion), Angus Monfries (ankle) and Jay Neagle (ankle) all sitting on the pine.

Speedster Leroy Jetta provided the spark in the third quarter, while Scott Lucas added some poise and a touch of magic soon after when he put in his nomination for goal of the year with an amazing kick out of mid-air that sailed through the middle.

Panic set in as the Tigers seemed devoid of ideas before Cleve Hughes booted a goal with his first kick of the afternoon to cut the Bombers' lead to four points at the final change.

Matthew Lloyd goaled to open the last quarter before Brown stepped up with three majors - including a brilliant snap from near the boundary - to maintain his team's recent hold over the Bombers.

Jason Laycock and Brent Stanton both had chances to put Essendon back in front with minutes to play but their set shots both missed.

Laycock had a shocking day in front of goals, missing a couple of easy chances and finished with 1.4.

The Tigers have now won six of the past seven matches between the sides, with this victory just the second time since 1975-76 they have beaten Essendon in three consecutive matches.

Brown's contribution all day was telling in the wash-up as he notched up 26 possessions and 11 marks, while Nathan Foley also starred with 31 touches.

Jobe Watson won a staggering 10 centre clearances to give his side first use out of the middle but the Essendon forwards were unable to capitalise on his good work. Stanton finished with 27 disposals and Damien Peverill 24, while Lucas kicked three goals in another fine return.

Richmond youngsters Mitch Morton (four goals) and Brett Deledio (three) set up a four-goal lead at half-time but the Tigers were unable to maintain their dominance through the second half.

Both sides made late changes to their teams with Will Thursfield coming in for Daniel Connors for the Tigers and forgotten Essendon defender Mal Michael replacing veteran full-back Dustin Fletcher.

RICHMOND: 5.2, 11.5, 12.9, 16.12 (108)
ESSENDON: 3.2, 7.5, 13.7, 15.14 (104)

GOALS: Richmond: Morton 4, Deledio 3, Brown 3, Simmonds 2, Johnson, Bowden, Tambling, Hughes
Essendon: Lucas 3, Stanton 2, Jetta 2, Lloyd 2, Hille, Atkinson, Lonergan, Reimers, Slattery, Laycock
BEST: Richmond: Brown, Tuck, Morton, Foley, McMahon, Deledio, Johnson
Essendon: Watson, Stanton, Peverill, Lucas, Reimers, Dyson
INJURIES: Richmond: Nil
Essendon: Welsh (concussion), Monfries (ankle), Neagle (ankle)
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Connors replaced in Richmond's selected side by Thursfield; Fletcher replaced in Essendon's selected side by Michael
UMPIRES: Rosebury, Ryan, Head
CROWD: 56,746 at the G

NEXT week - The Magpies need to "Beware of the Dons."

Cheers,

CHRISTOS BOMBEROPOULOS