Ready to takeoff

[Burzum]

MARK McVeigh admits he will enter the Easter Monday clash against North Melbourne with no idea how Essendon will cope in the first game of a new era.

The season-opener at Telstra Dome will force the Bombers into unchartered territory - the first match for premiership points without club pillars Kevin Sheedy and James Hird.

"It's going to be interesting to see how both parties, the players and the coaching staff, react in pressure situations," McVeigh, 27, said yesterday.

But McVeigh, who last year finished equal third in Essendon's best-and-fairest, is confident he's ready to step up again.

"I'm just looking to get even better," he said. "I think I've got another 15 to 20 per cent improvement in me this year.

"With James not being there, there's a chance for me and others to help fill the void and try to live up to the expectations of being a great leader in a club that's had many great leaders in the past."

He said new coach Matthew Knights had instantly commanded the respect of the playing group.

"He's a terrific coach, he's a guy that you play for and it will be great to get in a pressure situation with him," McVeigh said. "He's a guy you really want to do the right thing by. He definitely backs his players."

That pressure will no doubt arrive on Monday afternoon when the Bombers battle a side they have not beaten since Round 16, 2001.

"We haven't beaten the Kangaroos for a long time. We really appreciate their hard running, skills and willingness to help each other," McVeigh said.

"But the general consensus at our club is that if everyone follows the game plan and every player carries out the role they're given we're a chance of beating them.

"There's a fresh new outlook and there's light at the end of the tunnel after three or four down years."

McVeigh and teammate Andrew Welsh, both keen surfers, got the chance yesterday to meet reigning surfing world champion Mick Fanning at Bells Beach.

The players presented Fanning with an Essendon jumper before the trio talked all matters surfing, McVeigh getting the Australian champ's opinion on an end-of-season surf expedition.

McVeigh, Welsh and former Bomber Dean Solomon will have their own boat and private chef on the trip.

"It was good because I just planned a trip with a few of the boys to the Maldives for an eight-day surfing trip in October, so it was good to ask him about that," McVeigh said.

"It's something that I've always wanted to do, so it would be nice to cap off a big year with the Bombers."

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,23409208-19742,00.html

 

[bomber69]

its good to see knights is actually sticking by his plicy to "play the kids", sheedy always said it but never actually pursued in it.
exciting year this one, could go either way