Watch the boys start the 2017 VFL campaign, then go home and watch the AFL team do their best against Adelaide.
Our VFL side is said by some to be a top 4 chance in 2017, so we hope to sing the song more often this year.
Based on last years results and some stirring wins in practice matches, with some quality AFL players in the VFL team, we should account for the Sandringham side this weekend.
Go Bombers.
IM GETTING HUNGRY
Saturday medium range forecast is for 21 C, little chance of rain, and light winds.
Sounds too good to be true, for a traditionally windy footy ground, right on the bay.
Saturday 15 April
Summary
Temperature Min 10Max 21
Partly cloudy.Possible rainfall: 0 mm
Chance of any rain: 0%
Melbourne area
Partly cloudy. Light winds.
Yay, no Qwilt, and we might have Brown.
We’re gonna win.
Might try get down to this game Sat, mate of mine in on the Sandy coaching staff.
Langford might get a kick
“Light winds” at Sandy? 
Versatility key for Essendon in the VFL this season
Tim Michell, Moonee Valley Leader
April 11, 2017 8:30am
COACHING an AFL-aligned VFL side has always been a juggling act.
Each week, coaches such as Essendon’s Paul Corrigan are heavily reliant on the selection of their club’s AFL teams before finalising their own line-ups.
Recognising that challenge, Corrigan made versatility a priority when selecting players for the Bombers’ VFL list this year.
“When we looked at all the players that came down for pre-season, we tried to get versatility because you never know what you are going to get back week-in, week-out from the AFL,” Corrigan said.
“It’s nice to have guys who can play multiple positions or multiple roles.”
Coburg pair Danny Younan and Ozgur Uysal, former senior-listed midfielder Nick O’Brien, ex-Geelong player Michael Luxford and TAC Cup products James Peters (Calder Cannons) and Wilson Berry (Western Jets) headline Essendon’s signings.
O’Brien, who played 14 AFL games for the Bombers, has been appointed captain.
“He has always been a strong candidate as a leader, even as a young player when he was playing at Essendon,” Corrigan said.
“He showed some really strong attributes. The way he conducted himself through pre-season, a lot of the guys were able to see that.”
Vice-captain Aaron Heppell, defender James Ferry, forwards Alex Boyse and Alex Marklew and on-baller Nash Holmes have returned for another campaign.
Key forward Sam Hooper and midfielder Ben Fennell have been ruled out for the season after sustaining serious knee injuries.
“(We’re) disappointed but hopefully they will come back bigger and stronger,” Corrigan said.
“Apart from that the list is looking reasonably strong at this stage.”
Essendon will benefit from the healthy state of its AFL list during the early rounds of the campaign, with only David Myers, Ben Howlett, Jordan Ridley, Josh Green and David Myers sidelined.
Corrigan said a “fair contingent” of AFL-listed players had taken part in the club’s practice matches, with 14 named in the squad that hammered Richmond by 73 points on Saturday.
The Bombers finished eighth on the VFL ladder last year and were beaten by 19 points in a semi-final by premier Footscray.
Essendon starts its campaign on Saturday with an away fixture against Sandringham from 2pm.
Is it better to get off the train at Hampton or Sandringham station?
Sandi has a pub right at the station. So my recommendation is to get off at Hampton, walk south down Hampton st to the ground. After the game walk south to the pub, have a beer and stagger across the road to the Sandi station. !
PS, there used to be a Hampton Hotel 300 m up from the ground, and it was a lively place, but they turned it into apartments for baby boomers / empty nesters. Now Hampton has no pub.
I hope we can get Francis firing soon. The poor kid must be so frustrated at his progress so far. I just have a sense his frustration is making it worse for him. He needs to get out there and play his natural game first and foremost. I suspect thats why they keep on giving him stints n the midfield.
Of course theres a possibility they will pick him in the AFL this weekend… Lets see.
So just to clarify - this is Round 1 obviously? Not another praccy?
L
O
L
Outstanding.
Will we be receiving LIVE chip reports?
Yes it’s round one.
Anyone interested in getting a table?
Looks like a very strong side.
B: 20. J. Merrett, 50. J. Ferry, 39. H. Hocking
HB: 41. B. McNiece, 36. M. Hartley, 19. K. Mutch
C: 49. M. Dea, 54. N. O’Brien, 37. D. Clarke
HF: 25. A. Morgan, 44. S. McKERNAN, 10. A. Francis
F: 38. S. Draper, 17. J. Stewart, 77. N. Holmes
R: 2. T. Bellchambers, 24. C. Bird, 16. J. Begley
Int: 62. M. Luxford, 8. M. Gleeson, 57. N. Hind, 58. B. Dobson, 55. D. Younan, 65. O. Uysal, 79. B. Laguda, 71. J. Cornell
23P – 56. J. Peters