Sunday, September 23, 2012
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Unbeaten start flatters us: Bombers
Power forward Michael Hurley acknowledges Essendon's unbeaten start to the AFL season has been flattering to the Bombers.
The Bombers are one of four teams with a 3-0 record after a last-gasp victory over North Melbourne and wins over Port Adelaide and Gold Coast - both of whom were widely expected to struggle in 2012.
"I don't think we're playing super football at the moment, I think there's room for a lot of improvement," Hurley said on Monday.
"I think we've just been lucky to get away with a couple of wins."
Dempsey said the Bombers needed to work harder on consistency with their structure and "getting the small things right".
"We've drifted away from that at times during games and it's really cost us," he said.
Meanwhile, Essendon brushed off the club's mounting list of soft-tissue injuries, with Courtenay Dempsey the latest victim, having gone down with a hamstring problem against the Suns.
After a weights-focused pre-season the Bombers have had six players suffer soft-tissue injuries - David Hille, Mark McVeigh, Nathan Lovett-Murray, David Myers, Jason Winderlich and Dempsey.
"They're all pretty minor," Hurley said. "I'm not really sure of the exact details with Demps but he seems pretty good and hopefully we'll have him back soon.
"It's early on in the season so we're being a little bit cautious I suppose, but it's not a worry.
"You need a bit of luck in footy and we haven't really had that."
Essendon have a major task ahead of them to keep their record unblemished with games against unbeaten Carlton on Saturday and then Collingwood in the Anzac Day clash the following Wednesday.
"We'll have a massive emphasis on recovery, we've got to try to get our bodies right for a big couple of days," Hurley said.
He forecasts a number of team changes due to the extra short turnaround.
"I think it's going to be hard for the (same) 22 to play two games in five days," he said.
"It makes it a bit tougher but you work with what you've got."
AAP
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, essendon-3040 First posted April 16, 2012 12:54:12Saturday, March 17, 2012
Tigers after rare strong start
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick admits there is a growing confidence that it can at last make a strong start to the regular season.
While Hardwick calls Saturday's surprise preseason win over Geelong "a small step", he is pleased with his team's progress in the past five months.
The Tigers open the season with a tough draw; their traditional round-one clash with Carlton then games against grand finalists Collingwood, Melbourne, defending premiers Geelong and top-four finishers West Coast (at home).
They have not beaten Carlton in round one since 2008 and have become notorious for putting themselves under pressure early in the season.
"We're a lot more confident this time this year than we have been (in) the last three years," Hardwick told Richmond fans on Sunday at the club's family day.
"You only have to look at the depth of our (list), the quality of our players - they've improved enormously from a development point of view, from a size and physicality point of view.
"We're very much looking forward to the challenge of the first five games."
Heating up
The Tigers finished 15th and 12th in Hardwick's first two seasons as coach.
While Richmond should keep improving, there is strong speculation about Hardwick's future as he comes out of contract later this year.
Hardwick said the first two years were spent "transforming" Richmond's list.
"Now is when it does heat up, there's no doubt about that," he said.
"We've put some criteria to our guys, that we're looking to improve in certain areas.
"We certainly think there are some realistic expectations there."
While Saturday's 59-point win was in the preseason, it was also the first time Richmond had won in Geelong since 2006.
It also heightens the expectations of the success-starved Richmond fans, who packed Punt Road Oval for the family day.
This was the first time in about nine years that the Tigers' spiritual home has hosted the function and about 8,000 fans attended, delighting club officials.
President Gary March said membership had topped 40,000 and was about 2,500 up on this time last year as the club aims for 50,000.
Forward Brad Miller would not buy into the speculation about Hardwick's future at the club, but made it clear he is impressed with his coach.
"It (any talks about Hardwick's contract) is none of our business, it's handled by people over and above us, so we just focus on our footy," Miller said.
"I love him, I reckon he's a great coach."
AAP
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, richmond-3121, vic, australia First posted March 11, 2012 18:37:30Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Varcoe sidelined for start of AFL season
Geelong midfielder Travis Varcoe will miss the start of the 2012 AFL season due to a foot injury.
Varcoe was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his right foot on Tuesday, with the club's football manager Neil Balme suggesting the dual premiership player will be sidelined for at least 10 weeks.
"It is a blow, but we expect he will only miss the start of the season proper," Balme told the club's website.
"The best course of action to correct the problem is for him to have surgery.
"It is unfortunate that he will miss around 10 weeks, but we will not rush his recovery.
"We have to be able to deal with injuries, and we expect other players will step up in Travis's absence."
The 23-year-old kicked three goals in last year's grand final and played 24 games in the 2011 season, his pressure and pace being a regular sight in the Cats' triumphs.
The preseason blow will be a significant hurdle for Varcoe to overcome, although he has a track record for dealing with limited preparation.
He suffered a shoulder injury while in Ireland for the International Rules series in 2010, meaning his 2011 preseason was delayed due to surgery.
He also missed the first five rounds of the 2010 season due to a broken thumb sustained in a preseason match.
AAP
Tags: australian-football-league, sport, geelong-3220, vic, australia First posted January 24, 2012 20:06:48Friday, December 23, 2011
Patton to miss start of AFL season
Greater Western Sydney has suffered a major blow ahead of its maiden AFL season, with number one draft pick Jonathon Patton to be sidelined until May next year.
The Giants have confirmed Patton will travel to Stockholm in January for treatment on his left knee.
GWS's sports science manager John Quinn says the club is confident Patton will be able to resume full training in early April and should be available for selection in May.
"Patellar tendinopathy, or jumper's knee as it is also called, is not an uncommon condition in young players and something the club was aware of before it drafted Jonathon," Quinn said in a statement.
This means the young key forward will miss the first five rounds at best, with the Giants slated to play Carlton in round six on May 6.
Patton will be treated by the same specialist that number two pick Stephen Coniglio saw prior to being taken in this year's draft by the Giants.
Quinn said GWS would take a long-term view while assessing Patton's recovery from the condition.
"The club is aware that there are expectations of all draftees, particularly the number one pick, but we also believe Jonathon will be a 10-year player for the Giants.
"We want to give him every chance to achieve full fitness and fulfil his potential at the highest level."
The Giants start their preseason campaign with clashes against Collingwood and Western Bulldogs in Blacktown on February 18.
AAP
Tags: australian-football-league, sport, blacktown-2148, nsw, australia First posted December 20, 2011 16:35:52Saturday, May 14, 2011
Anthony to start for Dockers
Forward Jack Anthony will debut for the Fremantle Dockers in its AFL derby against the West Coast Eagles in Perth.
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Tags: australian-football-league, wa