Training 2017 Preseason Thread

Bombers challenge star duo to dominate up forward
Skipworth said Hooker still had work to do on his leading patterns and goalkicking to make the transition to a permanent forward, but the assistant coach was extremely encouraged by the 28-year-old's progress this summer.

"He's going really well. He competes really well. The smaller guys love crumbing to him, he brings the ball down centrally and he's probably our best contested mark," Skipworth said.

"He's got a lot of good attributes to play forward and with (Michael) Hurley back we're spoilt to have two All Australian key defenders, so Cale was the one we decided to have a look at pushing forward."

Daniher trained away from Essendon's main group on Wednesday because of knee soreness.

Skipworth said the spearhead was expected to return to full training in three or four weeks and was hopeful he would play some part in the Bombers' JLT Community Series campaign.
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-01-11/bombers-challenge-star-duo-to-dominate-up-forward
 
Midfield's added muscle
McKenna is enjoying seeing the young players that carried so much of the load last year; compete against the seasoned returning players.

“Darcy Parish as a second year player now and Kyle Langford who is spending a lot more time in the midfield now get to muscle up against ‘Myersy’ and Jobe and Dyson Heppell and Travis Colyer,” McKenna said.

“It is a win-win situation for us.”

Among the group of returning players are proven contested ball winners Jobe Watson, Dyson Heppell, Heath Hocking, Ben Howlett and David Myers.

“The immediate coaching those boys are able to give Darcy Parish, Kyle Langford and even David Zaharakis – who is an 8-10 year player – but has really only spent one full season playing inside for us last year because he had to,” McKenna said.

“The beauty about the big tractors coming back in is those lighter fellas - Darcy, even ‘Junior’ Merrett … instead of putting his head in the trough all the time, he can get some ball on the outside and really hurt the opposition.”

McKenna has two draftees, Kobe Mutch and Dylan Clarke, training with his midfield group.

Mutch has had a slight groin niggle that has been closely monitored.

Clarke, and top pick Andrew McGrath (who is training with the defenders), are the draftees who have got through the biggest training load so far.

But they’re still some way off matching last year’s draftees, including Parish – who played a key role in the Dons midfield throughout 2016 in the absence of so many key players.

“Even compared to what Darcy Parish did last year, it’s about 50 per cent of the workload, just to give you a comparison,” McKenna said.

The draftees will have a chance to impress over the next few weeks as the Club incorporates more match practice into its training schedule.
http://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/2017-01-11/midfields-added-muscle
 

60sbomber

Club Legend
Jul 4, 2011
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Essendon

Does anyone know when the time trial was?
Jaxson Merrett did a timed 2 lap run around the training track yesterday (Wed) on his own. Maybe he was just completing the time trial that the others did at another time. If so, it might explain why there was not much running at training yesterday.
 
He hasn't trained all pre-season.

IMO he will struggle to be fit for round one. If he does play, he will not be at 100%.

Yeah im hearing its his kicking leg, either hip, quad or knee. That would probably mean little to no goal kicking practice either which is not great.

If this is one of those things he should have had surgery on and we have held off its going to be frustrating.

However since its the offseason, the silver lining is it gives Stewart and Hooker time to gel and get settled. Opens up a position for someone to seize.
 
3-4 weeks before he can return to training and he "might" play some pre season matches? Does not sound like Daniher has had too great of a preseason.
Yeah it's a little concerning. Hope Stewart is tracking well.
 
Does anyone know when the time trial was?
Jaxson Merrett did a timed 2 lap run around the training track yesterday (Wed) on his own. Maybe he was just completing the time trial that the others did at another time. If so, it might explain why there was not much running at training yesterday.
I wish Merrett's name was spelt like that. Mods can we change the name of his threAd?
 

JDC!

Premiership Player
Jan 14, 2005
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NTFS&N.jpg


For anyone that is interested ...

Obviously a big year coming up for Jake, how does everyone think he'll perform?
 
View attachment 327067

For anyone that is interested ...

Obviously a big year coming up for Jake, how does everyone think he'll perform?
I expect him to dominate the VFL and earn himself a promotion to the senior list. I see him in the 30-40 range on our list right now, and hopefully in the 20-30 range by the end of the year.
 
We seem to be really throwing ourselves out there in the media.

Each preseason there is usually a team or two that gets a fair bit of coverage and builds hype. Think we are that team this year.
Easy to understand why given it's our first clear run at it in 4 years. The club will rightly be looking to get as many people all aboard the hype train as possible. It's genuinely exciting stuff for the first time in a long time.

Now if only that extended to tapping into the not insignificant in size or passion online community..
 
Sep 2, 2008
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Carlton great Greg Williams has joined Essendon’s coaching ranks
57114f459fb7fcad1aff7cc375553e91

JAY CLARK, Herald Sun
18 minutes ago

Subscriber only
57114f459fb7fcad1aff7cc375553e91

CARLTON champion Greg Williams has joined Essendon’s coaching ranks to help fast-track the Bombers’ resurgence this season.

Regarded as one of the game’s greatest midfielders, Williams has been working closely with the Bombers’ ball-winners throughout the preseason in a bid to sharpen their midfield skills and stoppage craft.

While his role has flown under the radar in recent months, Essendon players have privately lauded his specialist advice and one-on-one coaching sessions.

It puts one of Carlton’s favourite sons and a fierce adversary of Essendon on the field throughout the 1990s at the heart of the red and black revival this year.

Williams, 53, was widely regarded as one of the finest exponents of the handball in AFL/VFL history after an illustrious career spanning 250 games at Carlton, Sydney and Geelong.

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Greg 'Diesel' Williams at Essendon. Picture: Tim Carrafa

The dual Brownlow Medallist and AFL team of the century member is expected to remain in the specialist development role at Tullamarine this year, after initially taking up a position on a temporary and largely informal basis late last year.

It is understood Williams accepted an invite from John Worsfold to assist midfield coach Guy McKenna on the training track over summer, despite having minimal involvement in AFL coaching since he retired in 1997.

But he is set to stay in the role and continue to nurture the Bombers’ swathe of impressive youngsters, such as gun wingman Darcy Parish and No. 1 pick Andrew McGrath, and a batch of returning senior stars including Dyson Heppell and former captain Jobe Watson.

Williams previously worked privately with Watson in 2008-09, helping transform the former fringe midfield-forward into one of the game’s top onball stars.

Essendon, which has been devastated over the past four years by the costly drugs scandal, has embarked on a new era under Worsfold and is intent on re-entering the finals mix in 2017.

The club was buoyed by the young squad’s performance last season, despite finishing last with three wins.

McKenna said the re-introduction of the suspended senior players would help significantly bolster the midfield in 2017.

“It’s a lot to do with chemistry and continuity if you like with the boys because with so many of the fellas returning (from one-year suspensions) were actually midfielders,” McKenna said.

“We obviously took a hit last year, but on a positive note they come back nice and fresh and we get some big bodies in there.

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Greg Williams coaching Essendon. Picture: Tim Carrafa

“The beauty about the big tractors coming back in is those lighter fellas — Darcy (Parish), even ‘Junior’ (Zach) Merrett … instead of putting his head in the trough all the time, he can get some ball on the outside and really hurt the opposition.”

Essendon will open the preseason competition against Collingwood on February 16 at Etihad Stadium and then begin its home and away campaign in a Round 1 blockbuster against Hawthorn on Saturday night March 25 at the MCG.

Williams shared a tense playing rivalry with Essendon throughout his career.

The tough onballer was denied a third Brownlow medal when he fell one vote short of Essendon great Gavin Wanganeen in 1993.

ESSENDON has indefinitely stood down rookie Yestin Eades after he was involved in an alleged incident that is before the courts.
 
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