Essendon Bombers AFL News

Knights backs Watson, process
Essendon coach Matthew Knights would have been happy for any of his six leaders to become captain, but has thrown his support behind Jobe Watson »
Added: 2 months ago, Source: AFL.com.au

Evans appointed chairman
David Evans, son of former club chairman Ron, has replaced Ray Horsburgh in the top seat at Windy Hill »
Added: 2 months ago, Source: AFL.com.au

Evans sent chance to make mark
HE IS his father's son in so many ways. By name and in nature, and now by title. »
Added: 2 months ago, Source: News.com.au

Training Report - 16/12/09
By stormbringer Quite a warm day in Coffs Harbour. The public training session was advertised to start at 10.15am. I got there at 9.30am and they were already out training. There were three in rehab. Hille jogging, and Carlisle and Tyson Slattery in a modified group doing handball drills with the three NSW scholarship kids who are up for the week hanging with the team. Everyone else was involved in “mini” practice match. Three teams of about 12-14 per side. They were rotating with one side always resting. Some highlights: Gumby on Pears was a great duel. Andrew Welsh was permanently in a fwd pocket. Daniher has really filled out and looks great. Meli was roving as a loose man in the centre and was in everything. Prismall, Hocking and Laycock were all doing great. Laycock is moving fantastic. Could be the surprise of the year???? Dyson was the marshalling general in the middle for his side and doing a great job. Michael Still, Anthony Long and Bellchambers were noticeable and all having a good go too. »
Added: 2 months ago, Source: Bomber Blitz

Bombers Finalise 2010 Playing List
Essendon has finalised it’s playing list for 2010 following this mornings AFL Pre-Season and Rookie Drafts. Selection No.7 (pre-season draft): Kyle Hardingham DOB: 01/09/88, Height: 184cm, Weight: 84kg Recruited from: East Fremantle The 21-year-old Western Australian will bring versatility to the club after showing ability to fill almost any position on the ground. He won the East Fremantle senior best and fairest in 2009 and demonstrated his impressive speed at WA state screening. He is considered a solid defender and likens himself to Hawthorn’s Luke Hodge. Selection No.14 (rookie draft): Taite Silverlock DOB: 25/01/91, Height: 178cm, Weight: 83kg Recruited from: West Adelaide The 18-year-old South Australian played state level in both under 18s and under 16s and is considered a talented midfielder/forward. He is considered to have an impressive football brain and is accomplished at reading the play. He applies good defensive pressure and can be likened to Collingwood’s Paul Medhurst. Selection No.30: Ben Howlett DOB: 21/10/88, Height: 180cm, Weight: 82kg Recruited from: Peel Thunder The slightly older midfielder from Western Australia won Thunder’s senior best and fairest this year. He is a quick midfielder who played every game this year. He is a pacy rover type, and he was linked heavily to West Coast in the lead up to the draft. Selection No.43: Stewart Crameri DOB: 10/08/88, Height: 188cm, Weight: 86kg Recruited from: Bendigo Bombers The highly-skilled midfielder has spent two years playing for Bendigo’s senior side and 2007 in the reserves. He kicked four goals against the Coburg Tigers in round seven this year. Selection No.55: Marcus Marigliani DOB: 05/12/85, Height: 180cm, Weight: 80kg Recruited from: Frankston The Bombers raided the VFL again for this mature-age rookie. He comes with an impressive resume, having won Frankston’s best and fairest in 2008 and been runner up this year. He is considered a strong inside midfielder who can play inside the forward 50 as a small lead-up player. He was in the VFL team of the year for the second season running in 2009. *Selection No.65: John Williams * DOB: 08/10/88, Height: 188cm, Weight: 84kg Recruited from: Morningside/Essendon The former Bomber was drafted back after two seasons on the list. The high-marking forward has shown talent during his time at Windy Hill but had his 2009 season ruined by a shoulder injury that required a reconstruction. The young Queenslander will be hoping for a change of fortune this year. »
Added: 2 months ago, Source: Bomber Blitz

Training Report - 21/12/09
By FTWinderlich Firstly, I am really happy that Jobe got the captaincy, I think it was the perfect choice. Onto training. As I spent most of my time looking through a camera lens it was hard to take it all in. Others might be able to add to it. But here are a few observations of mine: - Great to see Gumby, Hille, Laycock and Neagle all running around for the whole session (mostly) Bodes well for next year. – Neagle needs to drop 5kg – The newer recruits look ready made physically. Marigliani looks to be a player. – Of the 400 pics I took, I think 80% of them were of hurley. Yes I have a massive no-homo for him. – Laycock smashed full tilt into welsh(I think) but both got up pretty quickly. – Melksham looks the goods, he seems to ooze the sort of natural football ability that guys like hird and hurley do. I am definetly on his bandwagon. Not sure if he has the bulk to play much next year though. – Still isnt that tall, and monfires was raping him in the 1v1 marking comps. All in all a great day put on by EFC. I am really looking forward to next year now. Click Here for the BomberBlitz.com Forum Thread »
Added: 2 months ago, Source: Bomber Blitz

Watson Named Bomber Skipper For 2010
It was of little surprise Monday morning when Jobe Watson was named as Matthew Lloyd’s replacement as Essendon skipper. The 24-year-old follows in the footsteps of his famous father, Tim, who captained Essendon from 1989 to 1991. “Its a tremendous honour. You look at the people who have gone before you and the history of the club, and to be captain of the club is a surreal-type feeling,” Watson said. “To be voted by my peers and my teammates and for them to have the confidence in me that I was ready really helped me.” Since his senior debut in 2003, Watson has played 94 senior games and in 2009 won his first Crichton Medal as Essendons best and fairest player. Andrew Welsh has been named vice-captain under Watson. »
Added: 2 months ago, Source: Bomber Blitz

Leader born from challenge
Jobe Watson says the crossroads of the 2007 season helped him choose the path that would take him to Essendon's captaincy »
Added: 2 months ago, Source: AFL.com.au

Watson humbled by captaincy honour
UPDATE 12.35PM: NEW Bombers captain Jobe Watson says being chosen to lead the side is almost a "surreal" experience. »
Added: 2 months ago, Source: News.com.au

Watson to lead Dons in 2010
The 24-year-old will follow in the footsteps of his father, Tim, by leading Essendon's premiership campaign in 2010 »
Added: 2 months ago, Source: AFL.com.au

Training Report - 7/12/09
By Mr_Sunbury#1 Training today from a sunny, humid and fly infested LaTrobe Uni fields. Ground was in immaculate condition and being my first time there I was impressed and can see why we use it as a training base with wide open spaces. Modified Group was: Neagle, Hille, T Slattery, Hooker, Laycock and H Slattery, Zaharakis and Meli at different intervals. There didn’t look like there was any physical hinderance for H Slattery, Zaharakis and Meli so maybe it was just a case of workload management. I’m told Hooker has a minor ailment and will be managed throughout the pre Christmas part of pre season. Of the modified group Neagle and Laycock looked the most hampered. Neagle looks severely limited at this stage. Laycock did run throughs mainly and his instructions were to mix up the intensity of his run though (approx 150 metres). He looked to be very one paced to me so whether he’s injured or just not putting in the required intensity I don’t know. Hille was dying to get involved in the main group. Main group did mainly the same type of drills as I’ve seen previously. Most of the time intensity was reasonably high for early December but there was one occasion where it got sloppy and slow and the group did some push ups as a penalty. The tempo lifted noticeably thereafter. It was very hard to see everyone involved but if I don’t mention any particular player its only because I didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary. »
Added: 3 months ago, Source: Bomber Blitz

Training Report - 27/11/09
By Alan_Noonan_#10 Cloudy conditions in company with sandbelt, Jackie_M, ant555, Koala, Heath’s dear old dad and Mrs ant555. No appearance from Winderlich, Stanton, Houli or T Slattery Modified group H Slattery, Laycock, Neagle, Hille, Dempsey with guest appearances from Dyson, Zaka, Pears, Quinn, Meli, NLM for particular skill exercises. Reimers trained the full session. Fairly standard exercises, plenty of guys look more defined muscle-wise, Myers looks much freer in his action and Rama looked well. GO’D is out of pocket again with 2 balls going missing. We reckon Calthorpe ate them. Probably my only session for the pre-season. Click Here for the BomberBlitz.com Forum Thread »
Added: 3 months ago, Source: Bomber Blitz