Essendon Bombers AFL News
BomberBlitz.com Exclusive Interview - Luke Tapscott
With the 2009 AFL National Draft coming this Thursday night, BomberBlitz.com’s Awesome Scotty has tracked down some draft projects for a word or two.
First up is Luke Tapscott
From: North Adelaide/Orroroo FC
Key numbers: 180cm, 86kg, 28/06/91
Luke is a powerfully built, ‘tough as nails’ forward or midfielder. He is a long and accurate kick and he has the ability to play taller than his 180cm with strong hands overhead. He is competitive and attacks the ball and his opponents fiercely and fearlessly. Highlighted his toughness and courage when unbeknown to Luke and the North Adelaide coaching staff, he punctured a lung in his league debut against Port Adelaide. He played on under duress but continued to throw himself at contests, not wanting to come off the field due injuries already to sustained to players on the bench. Luke attended the 2009 NAB AFL Draft Camp but was unable to complete physicals tests.
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Added: 3 months ago, Source: Bomber Blitz
Horseburger Gone
Essendon chairman Ray Horsburgh has announced he will stand down from the position in December.
Horsburgh, will officially step down at the clubs Annual General Meeting but will remain a club director, has endorsed David Evans as his successor.
Evans is the son of former Bomber great and AFL chairman Ron Evans.
Horsburgh, 65, joined the Essendon Football Club board in 2003 and became chairman in late 2005.
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Added: 3 months ago, Source: Bomber Blitz
Neagle Suffers Injury Setback
Essendon forward Jay Neagle, has undergone groin surgery and will not return to full training until the beginning of 2010.
General manager of football operations Paul Hamilton said that the 21-year-old visited an expert in Sydney immediately after the 2009 season after experiencing groin soreness and was advised that rest was the best course of action.
“Unfortunately Jay didn’t respond as well as expected to rest and three weeks ago had surgery on his groin in Sydney,” Hamilton said. “By all reports the surgery went well and he will now work with the rehabilitation group until Christmas. We expect him to join in the main skills sessions at the start of next year.”
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Added: 3 months ago, Source: Bomber Blitz
Training Report - 16/11/09
By ant555
Solid enough 1 1/2 hour skills today. Not going full pace yet but the skills where pretty good and things moved along like a well oiled machine.
The modified group was very low today with the members being Hille , Neagle, Slattery and NLM. Slattery had some minor surgery a couple of weeks ago which is why he is in this group and he looked a lot better running laps today.
Now before everyone asks about player X or player Y i can say that everything looks good and if i do not mention someone it will be because they are training alright with no problems.
Now i want to kick things off with Myers. He is moving better than last year but i have not seen him stretch out or kick fully extended yet. He has pretty much trained at half pace at the skills sessions and has yet to fully stride out. I know it is ealry but i would like to see him showing a bit off the mark as he is currently the complete opposite to Jetta who is moving very well and seems to have regained a bit of his zip off the mark.
Neagle in the mod group is a worry but not unexpected given he has a history of having to be on a modified program. Lets hope he is getting plenty of swimming and bike riding in.
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Added: 3 months ago, Source: Bomber Blitz
Training Report - 20/11/09
By Koala
The boys went through a pretty in depth session, lasting about 90 minutes.
Hille was doing some drills with the modified group, then went off by himself and was doing some jumping and sideways stepping exercises. Then there was an interesting one with one of the coaches being “harnessed” up to Hille and him having to try to run carrying the weight of the coach. Was noted that it was all straight line stuff though, didn’t see him varying direction while running
Hurley took part in pretty much everything, and did exceptionally well given he still has the cast on.
Bock looks like he’s put on a little in the thighs, ankles still look like they’ll snap any moment though!
Stants looked a little lighter in the thighs
Paddy’s shoulders looked a tad more muscly
Slatts had another hip clean up about three weeks ago, so did modified group work then ran laps.
First time I’ve seen Meli. Decent build, and one of the other Blitzers drew attention to his cute little dance he does in handpassing drills!
Neagle did some handpassing drills and walked laps
Rama looks good (before anyone asks!)
We came up with a number of wonderful theories based on the attire the guys were wearing….. Long sleeves = aspiring coach… black tops = aspiring leadership group… long socks = aspiring trend setters.
The “man bras” were also a very good look… Licha was the first with his top off so naturally his was dubbed the “Winderbra” tongue.gif
Special mention to GO’D‘s Spiderman impression… very impressive!!
Click Here for the BomberBlitz.com Forum Thread
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Added: 3 months ago, Source: Bomber Blitz
McPhee Quits - Wants To Return To Dockers
Adam McPhee is set to leave Essendon in a bid to join Fremantle via the pre-season draft.
McPhee will announce his decision today, accepting terms offered by his original AFL club Fremantle of a three-year contract in preference to the two-year deal the Bombers had offered.
The Dockers have second pick in the pre-season draft, but McPhee will still have to get past Melbourne, which has the first pick.
McPhee will nominate the three-year contract terms offered by Fremantle and if Melbourne is prepared to match those, then the Demons could scupper the Bomber utility’s plans.
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Added: 3 months ago, Source: Bomber Blitz
Welsh & Lovett-Murray Re-sign
Essendon have re-signed Andrew Welsh and Nathan Lovett-Murray to new two-year contracts, but the club remains at loggerheads with utility Adam McPhee.
“Andrew and Nathan are two of the real leaders at the club and as two senior players with strong bodies they will be important to our future success,” Essendon football manager Paul Hamilton said.
“Nathan played some really good football this year and, while Andrew was restricted with a serious leg injury, he returned and also showed what he is capable of.
“They will both now have a big pre-season and we expect them to be primed for 2010 and show their trademark courage and determination on the field.”
Meanwhile, negotiations with out-of-contract McPhee have continued with the Bombers yet to re-sign the 27-year-old.
The club remains committed to reaching an agreement to retain the 167-game player, despite reports he is considering a return to former club Fremantle through the NAB AFL Pre-season Draft.
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Added: 3 months ago, Source: Bomber Blitz
Bombers Begin 2010 Countdown
Essendon held their first pre-season skills session on Friday at Windy Hill – after four days of fitness testing.
Ruckman David Hille is on schedule to play in round one as he nears the end of his rehabilitation from a knee reconstruction, while fellow ruckman Jason Laycock has shown positive signs so far with an impressive time trial result on Thursday.
Knights said former Hawk Mark Williams was settling in well after arriving at Windy Hill last month.
“He’s demonstrated already in football discussion behind closed doors that he’s a very smart footballer and he’s going to add to the intellect of our group,” he said.
Knights also said that Essendon’s new skipper will be appointed in four to six weeks, and the field was wide open.
“I mentioned to the players on Monday, even though there’s been a lot of speculation about Jobe [Watson] having the front running with it all, we haven’t even touched the surface of going through the process,” he said.
“From my perspective, we’re starting now and we’ll appoint the captain in due course. Whoever gets it will be well deserving of it.”
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Added: 3 months ago, Source: Bomber Blitz
McPhee Given Deadline To Decide
Essendon have given utility Adam McPhee until this afternoon to decide his future.
McPhee has been linked with Fremantle in the last week after negotiations over his new contract stalled. McPhee failed to take part in Essendon’s first pre-season skills session at Windy Hill this morning.
Bomber coach Matthew Knights said it had to be resolved before the weekend.
“We are going to get a decision today, one way or the other,” he said.
“We have put a lot of work into trying to keep Adam at Essendon Football Club and that is obviously our preferred option, but we will just see what evolves in the next few hours.
“We are none the wiser at this point, but hopefully by four or five o’clock tonight we will know Adam’s fate and our fate.”
The Bombers have offered McPhee a two year contract, but the former All-Australian has asked for a three year deal.
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Added: 3 months ago, Source: Bomber Blitz
Welsh's healthy commitment
FEELING sick was the key symptom for Bomber Andrew Welsh. When he was linked to a move during trade week, Welsh couldn't leave. »
Added: 3 months ago, Source: News.com.au
McPhee's departure rankles Bombers
FORMER Essendon captain Matthew Lloyd holds no grudge against Adam McPhee for leaving the club »
Added: 3 months ago, Source: News.com.au
McFlee Cup - an new AFL rivalry
ESSENDON has labelled departing Bomber Adam McPhee as "the enemy" and warned it will be waiting when it clashes with Fremantle. »
Added: 3 months ago, Source: News.com.au