marcuz
Norm Smith Medallist
Longy413 said:
We got Laycock.
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Heff
- Thread starter Longy413
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We got Laycock.
- Thread starter
- #29
Plays his 100th game for the club this week. Very happy for the lad, hopefully he maintains his form throughout the season.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,18801456%5E19742,00.html
100-game Heff is back where he belongs
13 April 2006 Herald Sun
Jon Anderson
THREE years away from Windy Hill and Chris Heffernan has noticed change, from the abundance of new faces to the renewed spring in the step of a craggy old face.
Yes, Kevin Sheedy, the man ultimately responsible for drafting Heffernan at No. 2 in 1996, for cutting him from the list in 2002 and for redrafting him in November last year.
Sheedy has been the defining figure in Heffernan's footballing life, one that began at senior level in 1997 and will see the 27-year-old play his 100th game for the Bombers against the Western Bulldogs on Sunday.
And while Sheedy is 58, Heffernan, since he stepped nervously back into Windy Hill in November, has noticed a new spring in the coach's step.
"That's one thing I did notice: that the coach is more hands-on than he was and he seems very enthusiastic," said Heffernan, who grew up on a dairy farm just out of Terang in western Victoria.
"When I left I was one of the younger brigade but now I'm in the older 20. I was actually very nervous on my first day back; the biggest shock was how young the club is.
"It was like being in a time capsule for three years. But the new faces are typical of Sheeds. He doesn't believe in finishing on the bottom for three years in a row to rebuild.
"He has a good core of 10 players and he thinks if we keep those we'll be thereabouts if we get the right kids.
"I think it's a good strategy, as some clubs have rebuilt and done well, others have had their time at the bottom and not bounced back."
Heffernan is part of that strategy and should he continue in his current vein of form, he may well prove one of Sheedy's drafting masterstrokes in a coaching career littered with them.
And, make no mistake, Sheedy knows the good, bad and indifferent associated with 20 years of national drafts. Right now, Heffernan belongs firmly in the first category.
Not that he came cheap. The Bombers parted with pick No. 2 in a year that produced Nathan Brown (Bulldogs and Richmond, No. 10) Heath Black (12), Max Hudghton (15), Jason Johnson (28), Lance Whitnall (father-son) and Byron Pickett (67).
But when Heffernan was traded to Melbourne, the Bombers swapped pick No. 15 for No. 10.
Heffernan would be the first to tell you teammate Johnson has a far superior playing record, although there are other factors when measuring Heffernan's worth.
There's his leadership and personality around the club, part of the reason Melbourne pounced on him in 2003 when salary cap issues forced him out of Windy Hill.
There's his ability to play a disciplined run-with role.
And there's his desire to end his career on a positive note; he gives the impression he doesn't believe he's achieved everything he could.
"When I left here I was happy, so being traded came as a bit of a shock," Heffernan said.
"I didn't play as well as I could at Melbourne but I did enjoy my time there. Now it's not a matter of talking years left, just playing as well as I can each week.
"Having seen friends like Justin Blumfield squeezed out of the system, I'm not looking at game totals, just at playing good footy.
"Essendon got rid of me for a reason and I really enjoyed it at Melbourne, so it wasn't an easy decision to come back.
"Now I'm about to play 100 games and that does mean something, little things like getting your name on a locker because it will always be there.
"The year has started OK but for me it's about consistency, something I didn't do at Melbourne. Good players do that."
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,18801456%5E19742,00.html
100-game Heff is back where he belongs
13 April 2006 Herald Sun
Jon Anderson
THREE years away from Windy Hill and Chris Heffernan has noticed change, from the abundance of new faces to the renewed spring in the step of a craggy old face.
Yes, Kevin Sheedy, the man ultimately responsible for drafting Heffernan at No. 2 in 1996, for cutting him from the list in 2002 and for redrafting him in November last year.
Sheedy has been the defining figure in Heffernan's footballing life, one that began at senior level in 1997 and will see the 27-year-old play his 100th game for the Bombers against the Western Bulldogs on Sunday.
And while Sheedy is 58, Heffernan, since he stepped nervously back into Windy Hill in November, has noticed a new spring in the coach's step.
"That's one thing I did notice: that the coach is more hands-on than he was and he seems very enthusiastic," said Heffernan, who grew up on a dairy farm just out of Terang in western Victoria.
"When I left I was one of the younger brigade but now I'm in the older 20. I was actually very nervous on my first day back; the biggest shock was how young the club is.
"It was like being in a time capsule for three years. But the new faces are typical of Sheeds. He doesn't believe in finishing on the bottom for three years in a row to rebuild.
"He has a good core of 10 players and he thinks if we keep those we'll be thereabouts if we get the right kids.
"I think it's a good strategy, as some clubs have rebuilt and done well, others have had their time at the bottom and not bounced back."
Heffernan is part of that strategy and should he continue in his current vein of form, he may well prove one of Sheedy's drafting masterstrokes in a coaching career littered with them.
And, make no mistake, Sheedy knows the good, bad and indifferent associated with 20 years of national drafts. Right now, Heffernan belongs firmly in the first category.
Not that he came cheap. The Bombers parted with pick No. 2 in a year that produced Nathan Brown (Bulldogs and Richmond, No. 10) Heath Black (12), Max Hudghton (15), Jason Johnson (28), Lance Whitnall (father-son) and Byron Pickett (67).
But when Heffernan was traded to Melbourne, the Bombers swapped pick No. 15 for No. 10.
Heffernan would be the first to tell you teammate Johnson has a far superior playing record, although there are other factors when measuring Heffernan's worth.
There's his leadership and personality around the club, part of the reason Melbourne pounced on him in 2003 when salary cap issues forced him out of Windy Hill.
There's his ability to play a disciplined run-with role.
And there's his desire to end his career on a positive note; he gives the impression he doesn't believe he's achieved everything he could.
"When I left here I was happy, so being traded came as a bit of a shock," Heffernan said.
"I didn't play as well as I could at Melbourne but I did enjoy my time there. Now it's not a matter of talking years left, just playing as well as I can each week.
"Having seen friends like Justin Blumfield squeezed out of the system, I'm not looking at game totals, just at playing good footy.
"Essendon got rid of me for a reason and I really enjoyed it at Melbourne, so it wasn't an easy decision to come back.
"Now I'm about to play 100 games and that does mean something, little things like getting your name on a locker because it will always be there.
"The year has started OK but for me it's about consistency, something I didn't do at Melbourne. Good players do that."
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DaSawx
Brownlow Medallist
Congrats Heff, everyone loves to see you back
douggie the don
Team Captain
Personally, i'm still sitting on the fence. I hope Heff can string a few more good games together to silence all his bashers!!!!!
Interesting that he's probably ahead of Campo in terms of impact over the first couple of weeks. Not many people would've picked that 3 months ago.
(including me)
Interesting that he's probably ahead of Campo in terms of impact over the first couple of weeks. Not many people would've picked that 3 months ago.
(including me)
He showed more in the last two weeks at Essendon then he showed Melbourne in the last 2 years. I remeber watching him play of the back flank for the Dee's thinking trading him was the best thing Sheedy ever did given form and injuries. I know it's sentimental, but it just looks like his heart is in it back at the Don's. Wether that's enough we can only hope.
Bring-Back-Powell
Norm Smith Medallist
A dud of the highest order, and I'm sure you guys know that. Don't be fooled by 2 games. The real lazy, casual, frustrating Heffernan will reappear very shortly.
Don't say I didn't warn you.
Don't say I didn't warn you.
DaSawx
Brownlow Medallist
Bring-Back-Powell said:
You really need to get over it, obvioulsy a player with talent, who was dragged down by your dud of a coach