Bombers buckle under pressure: Hurley

Updated August 20, 2012 17:37:06

Essendon key forward Michael Hurley has admitted Bombers' senior assistant Mark Thompson was spot on when he said the team did not handle pressure well.

Still raw from the Bombers' 96-point thrashing by Carlton, Hurley said right now his team was not worth its place in the top eight, but that things could still be turned around.

"We always want to play finals footy," he said.

"If we play like we did on the weekend we probably don't deserve to be there, but in saying that, if we play the way we know we can, then I think we do (deserve to be there)."

The Bombers have now lost five matches on the trot, and having started the year 8-1, the team is now 11-9 and in 10th position, all but out of finals contention.

Thompson spoke out after Essendon's loss against North Melbourne - the week before the Carlton debacle - warning that the team did not appear to deal well with expectation.

Hurley said the evidence backed the former Geelong coach and Essendon premiership captain's statement.

"I think so, I think we've seen it a few times,'' he said.

"The final last year (a 62-point loss to the Blues in the elimination final) was very similar to the weekend.

"It was a big game, with a fair bit on the line and to play like that was pretty disappointing."

Hurley said the players could not wait for Friday night's game against Richmond at the MCG to start showing some improvement.

"Halfway through the year we were in a really good position and then a few things happened that weren't ideal.

"Now we're just clinging on.

"I suppose it's been a bit of a shock and really tough."

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted August 20, 2012 17:32:46

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Hird hoping Hurley stays put

Updated February 01, 2012 18:32:33

Essendon coach James Hird is confident star tall utility Michael Hurley will resist the lure of big money from AFL newcomer Greater Western Sydney.

Hurley is among several big names who are out of contract at the end of this season.

GWS has two years of recruiting concessions and it has already signed uncontracted players Tom Scully (Melbourne), Phil Davis (Adelaide), Rhys Palmer (Fremantle) and Callan Ward (Western Bulldogs).

"I'm sure everyone is very hopeful that Michael will sign soon, but that's up to Michael, his manager and his club to sort out," Hird said.

"I don't think he wants any pressure from us, but obviously we would love to have him signed as soon as possible and I'm sure that will happen."

The Bombers hope their new $25 million training facility, next to Melbourne Airport, will encourage players such as Hurley to stay with them.

On Wednesday, Hird helped turn the first sod in a ceremony at the construction site.

"We're setting up an environment that players want to stay in (and) we're setting up an elite environment where they can get the best out of themselves," he said.

"That will be for Michael to weigh up - we're certainly confident he'll stay, but that will be for him to decide.

"Speaking to Michael, he's very keen to stay."

Hurley is now part of the Bombers' leadership group, but his preseason was set back last month when he had some hamstring tightness.

"Michael's going very well, he trained with the full group yesterday, which went very well," Hird said.

The Bombers are planning to build a new headquarters that will be two-and-a-half times the size of their spiritual home at Windy Hill.

It will feature two training ovals, one the size of the MCG playing surface and the other having the same dimensions as Docklands.

They aim to be training at the new facility by the end of this year, with construction of the buildings to finish next year.

They will share the centre with the Australian Paralympic Committee.

"The greatest advantage we're going to have over what we have at the moment is a proper football ground to train on," Hird said.

"Essendon in my time has been training on a postage stamp, you haven't been able to do the drills you want."

Hird added injury-plagued key forward Scott Gumbleton was recovering well from surgery he had late last year to fix persistent lower-back trouble.

The Bombers coach also is pleased with work they have done over the preseason to improve their midfield depth.

"We have enough quality and depth in our midfield now," Hird declared.

"There are a lot of guys who have had good pre-seasons - you look at some of the younger guys in Jake Melksham, Ben (Howlett) and Travis Colyer."

He said last year's Rising Star winner Dyson Heppell would "creep" into the midfield at times this season.

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, essendon-3040, vic, australia

First posted February 01, 2012 18:32:33

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Hurley close to return

Updated January 13, 2012 12:40:01

Essendon star Michael Hurley is expected to make his return from a hamstring injury late in the preseason cup according to Bombers skipper Jobe Watson.

The 21-year-old was put on a modified training program after experiencing tightness in his hamstring last week.

The rising Bomber forward has already had his fair share of injuries in his short career, suffering a foot problem late in the 2011 season.

At Friday morning's session at Victoria Park, Hurley appeared untroubled as he jogged in 100 metre intervals.

Watson said the club will keep a close eye on Hurley but he was not in danger of missing the start of the home and away season.

"The type of player he is and the position and the importance he has to the team we made sure we didn't risk him," Watson said.

"He'll progress with his running today and it's just a matter of integrating him back into training.

"I wouldn't imagine he'll be playing early in the NAB Cup but like the rest of us he'll be there late in the NAB Cup."

In the first round of the preseason competition the Bombers fly to Perth to take on West Coast and Fremantle on February 19.

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, essendon-3040, melbourne-3000, vic

First posted January 13, 2012 12:06:07

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Bombers hold back Watson, Hurley

Published:Thursday, June 2, 2011 7:24 AESTExpires:Wednesday, August 31, 2011 7:24 AEST

Essendon will be without Jobe Watson and Michael Hurley after they failed fitness tests while Melbourne will welcome the return of Jack Trengove to the AFL.

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Tags: australian-football-league, vic, melbourne-3000

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