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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Suns hoping to surprise Port Adelaide

Posted April 20, 2011 16:00:00

Gold Coast's lame start to its first AFL season could work in its favour against Port Adelaide at Football Park on Saturday, according to young Suns forward Dan Gorringe.

The 18-year-old Gorringe says the Power may be drawn into a false sense of security against the Suns, who have lost their opening three matches by an average of 93 points.

He drew similarities between the Power's playing list and that of the Gold Coast, although the Suns are more reliant on younger players.

"It will be good competition and a test for us against Port Adelaide," Gorringe said.

"If we can catch them off guard and play some good footy early we will go a long way to winning the game.

"The are a lot like us, they are a young list.

"If we get out there and hit them hard, because they won't be expecting big things from us, [we might be able to] catch them off guard early ... this is one we might get a win over."

Many feel the Suns will not win a match in their debut season after choosing to invest heavily in young players and the future rather than recruiting seasoned veterans.

Having such a young list and more than a dozen first year players in the side means the Suns are prone to mistakes and simple turnovers and lack physically mature bodies to handle a full game.

Gorringe admits the Suns' inconsistency has been very costly and they need to string together four solid quarters to seriously challenge for a win.

"[Port Adelaide] are a bit of an up-and-down side and can be a bit like us - inconsistent," Gorringe said.

"Last week was a good chance to get a win but we fell away in the fourth quarter.

"Consistency, being competitive and hard at the ball for four quarters (are the key to winning), being so young it's hard to keep it up for four quarters, so if we can focus on that area I think we can win."

Taken at number 10 in the 2010 national draft, Gorringe will be slightly more familiar with the vast expanses of Football Park, having played at the ground in the under 18 competition and in a final with Norwood.

- AAP

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