Essendon Bombers AFL News

Training Report - 11/12/09
By saladin having a spare couple of hours, and given the list will be in Coffs Harbour next week, i thought i’d make an effort to get out to Windy Hill this morning. arrived about 15 minutes late, and the boys were out and warmed up when i got there. reasonably short, sharp session. the general structure was to have 4 or 5 groups of players and rotate them through different drills for 7 or 8 minutes each. the whole focus was on ball movement and finding options. a ball would be thrown in to a “ruckman” who would palm it down to 4 or 5 players and handball / kicking was then used amongst these players to work the ball away from a stoppage. For one activity the intent was NOT to run the ball away, players were under instruction to keep the ball in tight with handball. the next general task was to meet the kick coming from half back, wheel around and find a forward on the lead (the coaches filled “defensive” roles by blocking space) the session then finished by again dividing into groups and, starting at the school end, run the ball the length of the ground, crossing back and forth across the centre square with long kicking to field position. most of the kicking was damn good. »
Added: 3 months ago, Source: Bomber Blitz

Lovett-Murray drug charge dismissed
ESSENDON footballer Nathan Lovett-Murray has escaped a court conviction after a drug charge against him was dismissed today. »
Added: 3 months ago, Source: News.com.au

Hille no certainty for round one
Essendon ruckman David Hille may not be ready to play by the time the club faces Geelong next year »
Added: 3 months ago, Source: AFL.com.au

Brent wants Don's top job
BRENT Stanton has put his hand up to captain Essendon. »
Added: 3 months ago, Source: News.com.au

Knights wouldn't cop Ablett move
MATTHEW Knights says hed be grossly disappointed if one of his players followed Gary Ablett's lead and met with the Gold Coast. »
Added: 3 months ago, Source: News.com.au

Bombers Overlook Ball - Go Young
Essendon has passed at the opportunity at picking up former St. Kilda All-Australian skipper Luke Ball in Thursday night’s 2009 AFL National Draft instead picking up three TAC Cup teammates and a West Australian Selection #10 – Jake Melksham Height: 182cm Weight: 69kg DOB: 29/8/91 Recruited from: PEGS/Calder Cannons Bio: Well balanced with tremendous ball winning ability. Strong and hard at stoppages with clean skills by hand and foot. Can play both inside and outside. Vic Metro U18 representative in 2009. Won TAC Cup medal for Best on Ground in the Grand Final at Etihad Stadium. Averaged 18 disposals in 10 matches for Calder. Very impressive at Draft Camp with 2.99secs for 20m, 8.16secs for agility (top 12 per cent) and at 14.5 beep test. AIS/AFL Academy graduate. Selection #24 – Jake Carlisle Height: 196cm Weight: 83kg DOB: 01/10/91 Recruited from: Craigieburn/Calder Cannons Bio: Tall forward or defender who can play a variety of roles effectively. Strong hands, nice foot skills and an ability to read the play well, each highlights of his game. Vic Metro U18 representative in 2009. Averaged 17 possessions and seven marks in TAC Cup this year. Restricted at Draft Camp with a back injury but his vertical leap of 67cm was an indication of his spring (top 24 per cent). Selection #26 – Travis Colyer Height: 175cm Weight: 73kg DOB: 24/8/91 Recruited from: Trinity College/Claremont Bio: Attacking midfielder with a good turn of speed and tremendous poise in traffic. Strong performer for WA at NAB AFL U18 Championships, winning All-Australian honours. His 2.96sec for 20m and 14.5 beep test at Draft Camp highlighted his speed/endurance combination. Selection #33 – Anthony Long Height: 186cm Weight: 70kg DOB: 06/01/91 Recruited from: St Mary’s Bio: Skilful running defender with great ability to move through traffic. Agility, recovery and vertical leap are all impressive – 3secs for 20m at Draft Camp, 8.37secs for agility (top 33 per cent) and 70cm running vertical jump (top 30 per cent). With the departure of Adam McPhee, the Bombers will have one selection in the AFL Pre-Season Draft on December 15. »
Added: 3 months ago, Source: Bomber Blitz

McPhee in for pre-season draft
Adam McPhee has nominated for the NAB AFL Pre-season Draft, sealing his departure from Essendon »
Added: 3 months ago, Source: AFL.com.au

Essendon - draft rundown
THE well-balanced Jake Melksham proved an irresistible pick for the Dons. »
Added: 3 months ago, Source: News.com.au

BomberBlitz.com Exclusive Interview - Jordan Gysberts
BomberBlitz.com’s resident draftee stalker Awesome Scotty wraps up his interview series with Jordan Gysberts – a midfielder from the Eastern Ranges TAC Cup side. From: Eastern Ranges/Yarra Valley Grammar Key numbers: 188cm, 83kgs, 11/06/91 Jordan is very much a quiet achiever but fiercely competitive on the field. An AIS-AFL Academy graduate, he is a smart midfielder who wins plenty of his own ball, be it contested or uncontested. Jordan is a one-touch player and has a great ability to bring teammates into the game and set up scoring opportunities with his quick ball movement by hand. He has good skills both sides of the body and is a nice finisher when he pushes forward. Jordan represented Vic Metro in four matches at the 2009 AFL Under 18 Championships and averaged 16 possessions at 77 per cent efficiency. He proved dangerous around goal with five for the carnival including two against Western Australia at Subiaco. »
Added: 3 months ago, Source: Bomber Blitz

BomberBlitz.com Exclusive Interview - Kane Lucas
Tonight is 2009 AFL National Draft night as BomberBlitz.com’s Awesome Scotty has a word with Western Australian midfielder Kane Lucas. Will Essendon still have a Lucas on it’s list in 2010? From: East Fremantle/Trinity College Key numbers: 188cm, 79kg, 26/06/91 Kane is a hard running and highly skilled ball winner, capable of winning both contested and uncontested possessions. His speed and ability to read the play are both among his key strengths and he impresses with his ability to run and carry the ball. He represented Western Australia at the 2009 AFL Under 18 Championships and was pivotal as one of the team’s key leading forwards. He averaged 21 disposals per game (75 per cent efficiency), booted six goals and was also credited with 10 score assists. His outstanding carnival earned him All-Australian selection. Kane showed a remarkable mix of speed, agility and endurance at the 2009 AFL draft camp, clocking the fastest time for the agility test (7.95) and ranking in the top echelon of players for the 20-metre sprint (2.93 seconds), beep test (14.4) and three-kilometre time trial. »
Added: 3 months ago, Source: Bomber Blitz

BomberBlitz.com Exclusive Interview - Koby Stevens
Just one sleep left until the 2009 AFL National Draft and this time BomberBlitz.com’s Awesome Scotty heads down Gippsland way for a chat with Koby Stevens. From: Gippsland Power/Lucknow FC Key numbers: 187cm, 83kg, 18/06/91 Koby is a tough, inside midfielder who attacks the contest ferociously. With outstanding ability to mark overhead, Koby plays taller than his 187cm which makes him particularly dangerous when rests in the forward line. He attacks the ball and opposition very hard and is a frequent winner of contested ball. Koby is has proved an outstanding leader on and off the field and has been part of the leadership group with the AIS-AFL Academy squad, with Vic Country and Gippsland Power. He represented Vic Country at the 2009 AFL Under 18 Championships and averaged 19 possessions per match at 71 per cent efficiency. He led the championships for tackles, averaging six per match and was strong in the areas of contested possessions, hard ball gets and inside-50s, ranking third overall for Vic Country in each. Koby was unable to complete any physical testing at the 2009 NAB AFL Draft Camp as he recovered from injury but has previously recorded a beep test result of 14.6. »
Added: 3 months ago, Source: Bomber Blitz

BomberBlitz.com Exclusive Interview - Daniel Talia
The leadup to this Thursday nights 2009 AFL National Draft continues with BomberBlitz.com’s Awesome Scotty nabbing Caler Cannon Daniel Talia for a chat! Daniel Talia From: Calder Cannons/Assumption College Key numbers: 194cm, 89kg, 02/10/91 Daniel is a versatile key position player who is capable at either end of the ground. He is a very competitive player noted for intensity at the contest and his second efforts. Daniel possesses clean hands and great endurance for his size. While he has played much of his football as a key defender, he possesses an engine that could see him develop into a tall midfielder. He is very professional in his approach to the game and is most certainly an emerging leader. Daniel missed the latter part of the year with a hamstring injury and attended the 2009 NAB AFL Draft Camp but did not complete physical testing. »
Added: 3 months ago, Source: Bomber Blitz