Essendon Bombers AFL News

Hawthorn set-up hard to recognise
HAWTHORN is looking for its players to be inspired rather than distracted by the Buddy saga in today's eliminator at the MCG. »
Added: 6 months ago, Source: News.com.au

Paddy Ryding high for finals
Returning ruckman Paddy Ryder says it means a lot to him to make the finals »
Added: 6 months ago, Source: AFL.com.au

Ryder, Lloyd, Watson all set
Patrick Ryder, Matthew Lloyd and Jobe Watson are all expected to play against Hawthorn »
Added: 6 months ago, Source: AFL.com.au

Fresh injury concern for Bombers
MATTHEW Lloyd and Paddy Ryder look set to line-up tomorrow, but Jobe Watson may be in doubt to play. »
Added: 6 months ago, Source: News.com.au

Winderlich and Dempsey sign on the line
ESSENDON has secured key players on new contracts, including ball-winners Jason Winderlich and Courtenay Dempsey. »
Added: 6 months ago, Source: News.com.au

Lloyd no certainty
ESSENDON coach Matthew Knights says Matthew Lloyd and Paddy Ryder will have to prove themselves on the track today before being confirmed as starters this weekend. »
Added: 6 months ago, Source: News.com.au

Franklin's appeal given short shrift
LANCE Franklin's season is almost certainly over after the AFL Appeals Board last night rejected his appeal over a rough conduct charge. »
Added: 6 months ago, Source: News.com.au

Round 22 - Hawthorn Match Preview
By Guy Incognito So it comes down to the last round, against an old and bitter rival, who would have thought wed be were we are now. Is this the start of a new 80s era rivalry? Will we see fireworks the like of the 85 GF and the “line in the sand” game a few years back? This game should be a brutal test of attrition with both teams having a lot of injured players both out and running around on the ground, it could almost be a battle of last man standing wins. Both teams pride is on the line. Hawthorns simply due to the fact they are last years premiers and could be the first team in awhile to miss the next seasons finals series. Essendon pride is a work in progress, rebuilding phrase. Lloyd himself has said they are trying to regain some respect in the football world after 4 long years out of the 8, and having multiple chances to sow up a finals spot already, this is a big test for both sides. Ultimately they probably wont be playing for much other than one week of finals actions, but what that could mean for both sides would be enormous. »
Added: 6 months ago, Source: Bomber Blitz

Lloyd & Ryder Back!
Essendon have named skipper Matthew Lloyd and ruckman Paddy Ryder for their must win “mini-final” against reigning AFL Premier Hawthorn at the MCG this Saturday afternoon. The duo return from injury and join Heath Hocking and Sam Lonergan as inclusions replacing Alwyn Davey (shoulder), Tom Bellchambers, Leroy Jetta and Michael Quinn. Essendon B: Nathan Lovett-Murray, Tayte Pears, Jarrod Atkinson HB: Henry Slattery, Dustin Fletcher, Adam McPhee C: Andrew Lovett, Ricky Dyson, Mark McVeigh HF: Jason Winderlich, Michael Hurley, Angus Monfries F: Matthew Lloyd, Jay Neagle, Andrew Welsh Foll: Patrick Ryder, Brent Stanton, Jobe Watson I/C: Cale Hooker, Sam Lonergan, Brent Prismall, Heath Hocking Emg: Michael Quinn, Tom Bellchambers, Leroy Jetta In: Lloyd, Ryder, Hocking, Lonergan Out: Alwyn Davey (shoulder), Tom Bellchambers, Leroy Jetta, Michael Quinn Hawthorn B: Campbell Brown, Stephen Gilham, Grant Birchall HB: Luke Hodge, Ryan Schoenmakers, Shane Savage C: Beau Muston, Sam Mitchell, Jordan Lewis HF: Ben McGlynn, Beau Dowler, Chance Bateman F: Cyril Rioli, Lance Franklin*, Michael Osborne Foll: Max Bailey, Brad Sewell, Liam Shiels I/C: Garry Moss, Josh Kennedy, Riley Milne, Brent Renouf Emg: Matt Suckling, Simon Taylor, Travis Tuck In: Moss Out: Travis Tuck Inclusion subject to AFL appeal hearing on Thursday night »
Added: 6 months ago, Source: Bomber Blitz

Lloyd & Ryder Still In Doubt
Skipper Matthew Lloyd and ruckman Paddy Ryder will have until the end of the week to prove their fitness ahead of the Bombers’ “mini-final” with Hawthorn on Saturday at the MCG. Coach Matthew Knights said both players would do some light work at training on Tuesday ahead of their final fitness tests later in the week. “Both are progressing well but on Thursday and Friday they’re going to have to push and put the foot to the floor with their intensity on the training track,” Knights said at training on Tuesday. Both are moving forward but it’s not a fait accompli they’re going to play.” Lloyd is battling a heel injury while Ryder missed last week’s loss to Fremantle because of a knee problem. »
Added: 6 months ago, Source: Bomber Blitz

Bendigo Thumped Yet Again
By David J Richardson Windy Hill lived up to its name, with a strong northerly (i.e. cross-field) dominating the game. Until he went off injured, Hale was the basic difference between the teams — first as an unstoppable full-forward, and then in the second quarter in the ruck, where he set up a huge run that blew the game away. He was only stopped by a bump by Bristow that resulted in a serious hand (?) injury — I say serious as he held onto it tightly for the full minute or so it took him to slowly walk from the field before he went straight to the rooms, from where he did not return. The game was pretty scrappy due to the wind, with a disappointing amount of compensation for it by both teams. Bendigo desperately needed a tall forward, given precise kicks to forwards were near impossible. Their sole resistance came from a “mosquito squad” of players including Skipworth (our BOG), Hulme, Holmes, and Stroobants. Hocking was much better than Nash. Reimers started in defence, started with an appalling turnover kick from it, got sent forward, and shortly afterwards was off the ground. VFL ROUND 19 Bendigo Bombers 2.4 4.6 8.9 10.10 (70) North Ballarat 5.4 12.6 16.11 21.16 (142) GOALS: Bendigo Bombers: Hulme 2 Hocking Holmes Nash Magin Delahunty Bristow Stroobants Skipworth North Ballarat: Jones 5 Thomas 3 Hale 3 Urquhart 2 Wundke 2 Power 2 McMahon 2 Chester Dinnell BEST: Bendigo Bombers: Hulme Skipworth Hocking Nash Crameri Scanlon North Ballarat: Thomas Power Sewell Clifton Jones McMahon »
Added: 6 months ago, Source: Bomber Blitz

Davey Does His Shoulder
Forward Alwyn Davey’s 2009 is likely over after MRI scans on Monday revealed damage to his AC joint. He is expected to be sidelined for at least 3 weeks, meaning the Bombers will need to go deep into the finals for him to return. “The results confirmed that Alwyn has a grade three injury to his shoulder which is fairly severe,” Essendon football manager Paul Hamilton said. “There is very little he can do other than rest over the first couple of days. He is very sore and cant lift his arm up at this stage so we will give him a period of rest. “Once it is rested up and the swelling has gone down, we will start working on some basic movement patterns and build it up from there.” »
Added: 6 months ago, Source: Bomber Blitz