VFL Practice Match fixtures:
Geelong Essendon 11-Mar-18 4:00 PM Central Reserve, Colac
Werribee Essendon 24-Mar-18 1:00 PM Avalon Airport Oval, Werribee
Footscray Essendon 31-Mar-18 12:00 PM VU Whitten Oval, Footscray
VFLW Practice Match (there may be more to come)
Williamstown Essendon 15-Apr-18 11:00 AM Williamstown Football Ground
Courtesy of vfl.com.au
Wonder how many are from last year.
So 17 locked in, but Iāve only seen 12 mentioned so far, (Heppell, Hocking, Ferry, Boyse, Hind, Hooper, Marklew, Strachan, Sheahan, Sibbald, Harrison, and Huntly).
Does anybody know who the other 5 are?
I think youāre missing a few guys starting with H. Surely we can find some more! Should have kept Howlett. Get Hunter back
Hardingham and Hams would be handy too.
Registered changes, so far:
In: Joe Harrison (Monash Blues), Heath Hocking (Essendon AFL), Kalan Huntly (Castlemaine), Jamieson Sheahan (Bendigo Pioneers), Edyn Sibbald (St Bernardās)
Out: Nash Holmes (North Melbourne VFL)
Registered outs? Interesting, I thought NOB was out also?
āā¦Dec 1, 2017 - Nick OāBrien has joined Strathmore in the Essendon District Football League for season 2018. OāBrien has left Essendon, where he was the clubās Victorian Football League captain last seasonā¦ā
Moonee Valley Leader today mentions that Strathmoreās Logan Morey may play for us this year.
More on him at http://www.bordermail.com.au/story/5106513/yarrawonga-backman-logan-morey-joins-melbourne-club-strathmore/ and Round 12 Essendon v Nth Ballarat @ Eureka Stadium, 1pm Sunday 9 July 2017
Also that NOāB is only 24yo. Feels wrong.
Logan was with the program last year as well. Played at least a game or two, I wanna say one at North Ballarat maybe?
Edit : scratch that sorry I see youāre all over it DJR, at least my North Ballarat thought was right!
Bomberās unfinished business
Callum OāConnor March 7, 2018 5:45 PM
Ben Fennell missed 2017 with an ACL injury, but canāt wait to finally don the sash this year.
The time is now for Ben Fennell.
After an ACL injury cruelled what would have been the 25-year-oldās first season in the red and black, the highly-rated Bombers midfielder says he has āunfinished businessā to attend to in 2018.
āIām really confident in my body at the moment; Iāve got it to the position to play at a higher level that Iāve never had before,ā Fennell said.
āIām fitter and stronger than Iāve ever been and I havenāt had any setbacks at this stage, Iāve hit all the benchmarks I need to hit.
āIām slowly starting to introduce contact more and more each session, Iām feeling really confident every time Iāve introduced contact - I feel like Iām flying at the moment.ā
After signing to Essendonās VFL list following three years in Collingwoodās development squad, Fennellās 2017 season was stolen from him when he injured his right knee at training with Northern Football League side Montmorency.
The mental blow hit Fennell just as hard as the physical blow. As diagnosis faded into surgery and then into the path to rehabilitation, he recalls having to endure what renaissance-era poets described as ādark nights of the soulā.
āEarly days, I did,ā Fennell admits.
āThe thing that drove me was the support I got from the club.
āEven just after the injury when I had to take time away from the club after surgery I was getting calls from (2017 VFL coach and 2018 AFL forwards performance coach) Paul Corrigan about how Sam Hooper was in the same boat and how we would come back together and drive ourselves through rehab.
āYou obviously have those moments where you doubt yourself, but once I got back to the club I couldnāt believe how motivated I was and thatās full credit to the blokes around me.
āFull credit to (former head of rehabilitation and current head of physio) Brady Green and Essendon Football Clubās physios, theyāve really helped me to get my body into the best nick itās ever been in.
āBrady was absolutely huge in my recovery, he really kept me on track.
āIām really excited for the year ahead with this group and Iām more motivated than Iāve ever been.ā
Fennell was a two-time best and fairest winner at his former NFL club Hurstbridge and was described as one of the competitionās star on-ballers before becoming a Bomber.
With such a strong pre-season burning his desire to return, all that remains is for Fennell to recapture the freedom of playing at his very best.
āItās fun. I know it sounds clichĆ©d,ā he laughs when describing his love of playing footy at the peak of his powers.
āBut sometimes in the past Iāve cursed myself for taking all the enjoyment out of footy and focusing on the external things, putting pressure on myself and the expectations.
āWhen I play my best footy is when Iām out there having fun, when Iām clear-minded and playing footy like Iām a little kid again.ā
More By Callum OāConnor
VFL squad finalised
Essendon has confirmed the 24 players who will don the red and black for the 2018 VFL season.
From an initial list of 45 hopefuls the Bombers have finalised a list with 13 members of the 2017 team retaining their positions including vice-captain Aaron Heppell, deputy vice-captains Nick Hind and Danny Younan and leadership group members Sam Hooper and James Ferry.
Former AFL Bomber and 2018 VFL captain Heath Hocking headlines the 11 new signatures penned to the squad.
Essendon will announce the five players making up the development squad round one. These players will train, but will only be elevated to the VFL list or available for selection in the event of a long-term injury, illness or unavailability.
Guernsey numbers, heights and weights will be confirmed in the coming days, and posted on the EFC website when Telstra decides it can be figgin well bothered to do it.
VFL SQUAD
Heath Hocking (Captain ā Olinda FC, Inside Midfielder)
Aaron Heppell (Vice-Captain, Leongatha FC, Inside Mid/Defender)
Nick Hind (DVC, Keilor FC, Midfielder)
Danny Younan (DVC, Bundoora FC, Small Forward)
James Ferry (Gisborne FC, Key Defender)
Alex Boyse (Doutta Stars FC, Forward)
Nick Dixon (Collegians FC, Inside Mid)
Ben Fennell (Montmorency FC, Midfielder)
Sam Hooper (Keilor FC, Key Back/Forward)
Kieran Strachan (South Bendigo FC, Ruck)
Matt Darby (Avondale Heights, Key Back)
Alex Marklew (Wangaratta FC, Utility)
Trent Crosbie (Gisborne FC, Midfielder/Wing)
Luke Collins (Montmorency FC, Forward/Wing)
Jake McQueen (East Point FC, Small Forward/Wing)
James Peters (Aberfeldie FC, Small Forward)
Wilson Berry (Aberfeldie FC, Half Back/Wing)
Joel Ottavi (East Point FC, Key Forward)
Edyn Sibbald (St Bernardās FC, Key Forward)
Jamieson Sheahan (Strathfieldsaye FC, Half Back/Wing)
Joe Harrison (Monash FC, Midfielder)
Kalan Huntly (Castlemaine FC, Midfielder)
Nino Lazzaro (Fitzroy FC, Forward/Wing)
Joel Grace (Bundoora FC, Ruck)
.
Development Train-On Group
Tom Simpson (Hurstbridge FC, Midfielder)
Jacob Brown (East Point FC, Midfield/Forward)
Bruno Laguda (Doutta Stars FC, Half Back/Wing)
Ben Huggard (St Bernardās FC, Half Back/Wing)
Tyson Old (Northcote Park FC, Half Back/Wing)
Nash Holmes? Whereād he go?
north melbourne
Most recent of many articles on players:
The 19-year-old utility had earned his place and been presented with his playing guernsey by captain Heath Hocking before Essendon ran out to take on Footscray under the Saturday night lights at VU Whitten Oval in round nine.
However, the match ended with unfinished business for debutant and team alike. The Bombers fell by 11 points to end a month-long hot streak. And far from being overwhelmed by the prospects of coping with the VFL standard, Lazzaro says he is now hungry to prove himself.
āI thought I played my role to a decent level,ā said Lazzaro, who finished with eight touches and six tackles playing between wing and defence.
āObviously thereās stuff I could have done a lot better, but hopefully if I get more opportunities I can really improve.ā
Although the inevitable butterflies were most definitely present before the ball was bounced, Lazzaro says there was nothing like getting the ball in hand for the first time to help him feel like he was in the flow of the match.
āI got a bit of confidence from that. I felt more like I was part of the game after that.ā
Lazzaro met with family and friends in the rooms post-match with celebration and reflection fighting inside him. He concedes that it was āpretty disappointing to have gone down in a game that I think we could have wonā, but the big picture is now on improving his game.
āIām maybe a bit more confident that I can play at this level,ā Lazzaro said. āI wasnāt sure if I was able to have an impact and now I feel like I can do that.ā
Having trained as a forward during pre-season before playing on the wing in practice matches, Lazzaro added another string to his bow playing as a defender in the fourth quarter against Footscray.
With the VFL breakthrough made, the new Bomber is looking to make the most of his chances in 2018.
āIād just like to be part of a winning team and hopefully be able to play an important role in that.ā
By Callum OāConnor
Got to catch up on a few VFL games I hadnāt seen over the past long w/end,ā¦ and couldnāt help but notice young McQueen.
Only seen him play a couple of games, but kept on thinking Wilbur Hams was back with us. Uncanny resemblance in stature, hair, and attack on the pill.
Looked like he had a bit to me, & wondered what your (and other watchers) thoughts on him are @theDJR??
I like him 