Bendigo 2009

[ant555]

Took Hurley off half through the last quarter. Interesting....

I expect to see him next week. I actually like to see Houli given a go ahead of McVeigh if he was sooking.

McVeigh had genuine soreness after training on Thursday.
He was not sooking. He still went to the game and was part of the team even though he was not playing.

 

[Colin D'Cops]

The only x factor he has is he can jump really high and take down 1 speccie from 15 attemps..

Well yeah, that's what I was getting at.

 

[ant555]

I was not at the game today so i can not coment on it much ( i did get a good review from a reliable sorce who was there as to who played well.)
According to him the better players where Hurley, Myers and Houli with German and Jetta being ok. Bellchambers was ok early but ordinary most of the day.
His comment was it is hard to be enthused about picking good players in a side that is getting flogged by 15 goals.

Now to more interesting matters. I have been asking around a few people i know with regards to the Bendigo alignment over the last few weeks and there was some interesting comments made by Peter Schwab in this weeks VFL/TAC Cup record. You can draw your own conclusions aboiut the following.

Essendon have approached AFLV about a stand alone side but the feed back i got from somone in the know is it is unlikely a new stand alone licence would be issued.

ALFV is still standing by its previous stance about no more licence's.

The VFL stance is interesting. They are not against another stand alone side but they are not keen on more than three.
Schwab said the following

Firstly AFLV has veto over all VFL licences. However if Essendon where to stand alone in the VFL it would put us up to 3 stand alone clubs and that is as many as we would want.

Secondly they are not impressed with the condition of the QEO and are concerned long term about the future condition.
They belive the ground is being over used and its recovery is in doubt if it continues to have a heavy work load. They want to see less local footy played there if the ground is to continue being VFL venue.

Schwabs comment on this was as follows

I think it is being over used. Too many teams are playing and training at the venue. I dont think it can stand up to that sort of usage. We have met with Bendigo council to discuss it and they are doing everything possible to resolve this issue.

This leads into a problem as far as the Bendigo leauge is concerned. I have spoken to someone i know who is involved with one of the Bendigo leauge clubs and the comment was there is no way the Bendigo leauge would be happy or consider giving up games at the QEO as it is their premier venue.
So that means that BFL games will continue to be played there.
Any Council moves to remove the BFL would be hugely unpopular.

On top of the ground usage the prolonged drought that has severly effected the Bendigo region is showing no real signs of ending and the area will need three or four years of good rainfall to get things back to a normal state.

Now the word is the stronger Melbourne based VFL clubs like Williamstown, Port Melb etc are not adverse to having an Essendon side in the comp playing out of WH as the traveling is less and the ground surface is better.
It is also better for their supporters.

Next we have the Frankston issue. The VFL has told them they need to get their house in order.
When asked if Frankston would cotinue to get VFL funding Schwab

we cant guarantee they will get the same amount of funding going forward. We are not saying we wont ,but at this stage we can't guarantee any of our VFL clubs what the financial model will be until we resolve our whole funding model with AFLV.

He also said

the closer to break even point they can get the better it is for them.
Frankston know they have some challenges to lift their revenue. As a stand alone VFL club it is always difficult to remain competative on- field becasue it takes more money. Frankston needs to tread that fine line between maintaining a posative balance sheet and maintaining a competative team.

So what do we draw from all of this ?
I am not totaly sure but i can say that Essednon are certainly looking to change the situation.

You can say that unless the QEO imrpoves dramaticly which is unlikely then the future of games in Bendigo is in real doubt and i am not just talking about this season. It will be a problem for several seasons until we get a few years of good rainfall. Even then the heavy work load will work against it.

You can join the dots and say the VFL is not concerned if they get out of Bendigo.

You could also add 1+1 to get three and say the VFL would probably like us to align with Frankston so that the financial and player input we have will see them become a competative side. that way the Frankston problem is fixed and if Bendigo go under the Bendigo problem is fixed.

There is also a school of thought that the Bendigo aligment could stand up but be based more out of Melbourne with most games at WH or even the posability of Essendon taking over the Bendigo licence if Bendigo can not stand up as a stand alone side.

Whatever happens with Bendigo the condition of the QEO is going to be a crutial sticking point.

I can not say 100% what will happen but i will end with a quote from someone well conected with the issues and that is " expect some serious changes next year "

 

[GoldenboyHird_5]

Very interesting stuff there ant.

As much as you have given me hope, I still feel that Schwab and AFLV will try to suck the life out of the situation for themselves, leaving us with the worse end of the deal.

Whatever results, I don;t believe will be entirely in our favour.

 

[fishguts]

From the sounds of it, our most likely option is getting Bendigo's licence.

 

[daffo]

General ego soreness? Not willing to run out for Bendigo, I presume that is below him? How can he be generally sore, when was the last time he actually played a game? Before the split round?

That's exactly what I was thinking. I beat if he was playing for Essendon on Friday night he wouldn't be that sore.


Great report Bocks!!! Really appricated the stats as well.

 

[Mudflap]

There is also a school of thought that the Bendigo aligment could stand up but be based more out of Melbourne with most games at WH or even the posability of Essendon taking over the Bendigo licence if Bendigo can not stand up as a stand alone side".

Could be the scenario closer to the source, maybe play 2 games in Bendigo. A fair bit of discussion still to be had but we will see them back at Windy Hill in 2010.

 

[lemon chicken]

Very interesting stuff there ant.

As much as you have given me hope, I still feel that Schwab and AFLV will try to suck the life out of the situation for themselves, leaving us with the worse end of the deal.

Whatever results, I don;t believe will be entirely in our favour.

I disagree, I think this was the first real public indication that the VFL is of the opinion Bendigo does not have a future. As well as the ground issue the uncompetitveness of the side and in paticular the reserves side are issues in them continuing. The Gold Coast are yet to apply for a VFL licence for next season and have until August to do so and unless Frankston can get an alignment they may not be there next season. It could be a very different looking VFL comp next year.

 

[efcboy]

i'm concerned at whats happening performance wise at bendigo - i get the impression the players have no respect for the coach. going off the report that houli ignored orders to interchange for 5 minutes tells me there are issues. if this is true then houli should not even be considered for essendon if this is his attitude - sure he may not like the coach but it is a team game and there is no room for selfish individuals.

in 2010 i would like to see a complete revamp (which is likely to happen) - new venue (windy hill), new coach and a new positive attitude to playing for bendigo. at present there is no team spirit or direction or anything. i think hickmott is too soft as a coach and the players have no respect for him - we need a guy who is good with junior footballers and is tough discipline wise - a tough coach who will make players work harder in games and demand more effort etc (ie neagle). off the top of my head dennis pagan would be a suitable candidate but perhaps we don't want him interfering or campaigning for a senior role? if we had essendon vfl playing out of windy hill would n.buckley be interested if he chose to go down assistant coach pathway?

at present surely the development of our younger players is hurting under the current structure - how can a young key forward be expected to improve under match conditions at present? the team structure, coaching and management is very poor - something needs to change. sure its only effectively our "2nds" but essendon are a proud club and we should not accept mediocrity at any level.

 

[mick4]

Whatever happens with Bendigo the condition of the QEO is going to be a crutial sticking point.

The condition of the ground is not going to improve in the next 12 months unless there is some kind of miracle in the way of rain fall if they fell that is the problem. The long term prediction isn't great for rain and with Bendigo being in an area with very poor water catchment.

Having played rep cricket at QE and being from the ag industry personally I think that the problem is not just the lack of water but also the soil that the ground is on is very poor and does not drain.

It has not had great rain fall for around 7 years so its not a new problem, maybe just convenient

 

[ant555]

The condition of the ground is not going to improve in the next 12 months unless there is some kind of miracle in the way of rain fall if they fell that is the problem. The long term prediction isn't great for rain and with Bendigo being in an area with very poor water catchment.

Having played rep cricket at QE and being from the ag industry personally I think that the problem is not just the lack of water but also the soil that the ground is on is very poor and does not drain.

It has not had great rain fall for around 7 years so its not a new problem, maybe just convenient

And i covered all of this in the middle of my post so i am not sure why you just selected the last piece i wrote.

My exact words where

On top of the ground usage the prolonged drought that has severly effected the Bendigo region is showing no real signs of ending and the area will need three or four years of good rainfall to get things back to a normal state.

Having been out on the surface i will say the problem is not drainage at all. The grass cover is patchy but it is not a mud whole if it rains.
The problem has come from lack of water to keep the ground in good nick over summer and then a very late Autumn break most years.

The drought has been a problem for 7 years but the excuse is not convenient. The ground has gradually worn out over the period of time until it has got to a point where it can no longer recover the dry period that for the last 5 or 6 years has seen little rainfall not only over the summer period but also late spring and early autumn.

It is a similar problem to a number of local footy grounds around Melbourne.

 

[ant555]

.

in 2010 i would like to see a complete revamp (which is likely to happen) - new venue (windy hill), new coach and a new positive attitude to playing for bendigo. at present there is no team spirit or direction or anything. i think hickmott is too soft as a coach and the players have no respect for him - we need a guy who is good with junior footballers and is tough discipline wise - a tough coach who will make players work harder in games and demand more effort etc (ie neagle). off the top of my head dennis pagan would be a suitable candidate but perhaps we don't want him interfering or campaigning for a senior role? if we had essendon vfl playing out of windy hill would n.buckley be interested if he chose to go down assistant coach pathway?

You do know Hickmots coaching history dont you ?
I know you are not a big wrap with what you have seen and heard at quarter time but to say the players have no respect for him or he is no good at coaching younger players is a not right at all.
He coached Gippsland Power and was selected as our development coach becasue of his good record as a under 18 coach.
You have seriously taken your low opinion of him and created something of absolute fiction. I guess you have not watched Hickmott at training . I can tell you without a doubt that he has the respect of the players. I can also tell you that he has to coach to the Essendon plan. Knights has a big imput into where the players are ysed at VFL level. Quite often there is a set plan in play to teach the young blokes different roles . Not much the coach can do if he has to leave players in certain spots despite them not winning that position.

As far as Neagle goes he has always been the same. He was the same at Gippsland under Paul Hudson and the same at Bendigo under Knights.

 

[Colin D'Cops]

It is a similar problem to a number of local footy grounds around Melbourne.

Jacana being one. Umpired there a couple of weeks ago; is rock solid in the corridor of the ground and as such was perfect for bouncing. Making average umpires look good with how easy you can bounce, as most grounds as you pointed out are very similar.

Hopefully we can get that seperate license; but I'm not holding my breathe.

 

[Jaymin]

All Bendigo Home Games will be played at Windy Hill for the rest of season 2009.

 

[Skeeta Olly]

B
L. Jetta
Redpath
Flaherty
HB
Weekley
Bristow
Atkinson
C
Coulson-Hoffacher
Myers
Holmes
HF
Lovett-Murray
Neagle
Quinn
F
Zaharakis
Williams
Daniher
R
Bellchambers
Houli
German
Int
Thomson
Hulme
Fiske

Scanlon
Byrne
S. Crameri

Hackett
Nash
Prockter*

 

[King Of The Hille]

Does anyone now where Ashleigh Humphrey is?
He was playing reserves last year and possibly this year and i thin he got a go in the seniors. Anyone know if hus still playing?

 

[cAsEy_18]

I guess it's not really a chance if we've got guys like Houli and Myers pushing for a spot, but if German continues to get in the best, he really does deserve a chance.

 

[efcboy]

You do know Hickmots coaching history dont you ?
I know you are not a big wrap with what you have seen and heard at quarter time but to say the players have no respect for him or he is no good at coaching younger players is a not right at all.
He coached Gippsland Power and was selected as our development coach becasue of his good record as a under 18 coach.
You have seriously taken your low opinion of him and created something of absolute fiction. I guess you have not watched Hickmott at training . I can tell you without a doubt that he has the respect of the players. I can also tell you that he has to coach to the Essendon plan. Knights has a big imput into where the players are ysed at VFL level. Quite often there is a set plan in play to teach the young blokes different roles . Not much the coach can do if he has to leave players in certain spots despite them not winning that position.

As far as Neagle goes he has always been the same. He was the same at Gippsland under Paul Hudson and the same at Bendigo under Knights.

the excuses are wearing thin for mine - things like playing guys in positions to suit essendon etc...all alligned sides suffer the same fate and the bendigo bombers are clearly the worst. i am speculating about hickmott but surely if a team is consistently getting thrashed week after week the players are not performing for the coach. no-one could argue that the current setup is not working - something needs to change. i believe the club does have a good group of young players so i'm doubting its the players. is the coach responsible for selecting/recruiting the top-up players?

now that the home games are at windy hill i'll see more of what is going to make a better judgement.

 

[morphous]

2009 VFL Reserves
Sandringham 5.4 6.4 10.10 13.11 (89)
Bendigo Bombers 0.2 5.6 8.9 16.11 (107)

GOALS:
Sandringham: Allan 3 McConnell 3 Stapleton 2 Eddy 2 Gilchrist Summons Garrubba
Bendigo Bombers: Delahunty 5 Crameri 2 Hackett 2 Davies 2 Taylor 2 Mason Carroll Stroobants

BEST:
Sandringham: Gilchrist Allan Johnston Connors Hardiman Johnston
Bendigo Bombers: Delahunty Hackett Stroobants Crameri Klemke Carroll

REPORTED PLAYERS:
Sandringham: nil
Bendigo Bombers: nil

 

[danzan22]

Is that score correct, i seriously can't believe what my eyes are seeing...........the reserves won a match!!!!

Hopefully the seniors can do the same

 

[eth-dog]

Is that score correct, i seriously can't believe what my eyes are seeing...........the reserves won a match!!!!

Hopefully the seniors can do the same

Carroll, Klemke and Stu Crameri were all playing for them. those three alone would own any reserves team

 

[ant555]

the excuses are wearing thin for mine - things like playing guys in positions to suit essendon etc...all alligned sides suffer the same fate and the bendigo bombers are clearly the worst. i am speculating about hickmott but surely if a team is consistently getting thrashed week after week the players are not performing for the coach. no-one could argue that the current setup is not working - something needs to change. i believe the club does have a good group of young players so i'm doubting its the players. is the coach responsible for selecting/recruiting the top-up players?

now that the home games are at windy hill i'll see more of what is going to make a better judgement.

Well some of the excuses are legit.
The fact of the matter is the other clubs attract better quality VFL player to start with. On top of that there has not been 1 Bendigo game this season where the best 5 Bendigo players have all played in the same side.

You can not blame Hickmot for the Bendigo recruiting side of things. The caoch is not in charge of that area and players dont want to travel to Bendigo to play if they are working in Melbourne.

I am not saying he is the right choice for coach. I am simply filling in some huge gaps in your presumptions about Hickmot.
You say we have a good bunch of young players, well ye we do and they all work under Hickmot 5 days a week at the club. A lot of what you see thm doing at senior level is a result of Hickmotss efforts as a development coach.

At the end of the day when you get injuries added to a list that is young and only average in ability and then you add player development to that then you get a perfect recipe for an ordinary season.

You can paint a trud gold and it will look like a nugget but it will always be a ****. Sadly for us the bendigo list is that ****.

 

[cAsEy_18]

2009 VFL Reserves
Sandringham 5.4 6.4 10.10 13.11 (89)
Bendigo Bombers 0.2 5.6 8.9 16.11 (107)

GOALS:
Sandringham: Allan 3 McConnell 3 Stapleton 2 Eddy 2 Gilchrist Summons Garrubba
Bendigo Bombers: Delahunty 5 Crameri 2 Hackett 2 Davies 2 Taylor 2 Mason Carroll Stroobants

BEST:
Sandringham: Gilchrist Allan Johnston Connors Hardiman Johnston
Bendigo Bombers: Delahunty Hackett Stroobants Crameri Klemke Carroll

REPORTED PLAYERS:
Sandringham: nil
Bendigo Bombers: nil

O......M.......G.......

 

[morphous]

Carroll, Klemke and Stu Crameri were all playing for them. those three alone would own any reserves team

Why didn't they win last week then.

 

[abers47]

Any results from seniors today?