THE NEW generation of young talent sweeping through Windy Hill will be given centre stage for Essendon’s opening NAB Cup match against Brisbane at Carrara on Saturday night.
However, coach Matthew Knights said he was eager to try out new talent at the start of a year he hopes will see his younger players push through and challenge for places in the starting line-up.
“We’ll take a young side up to the Gold Coast and realistically, there are probably 11 of our top 25 players at this stage who won’t be playing, each for specific reasons,” Knights said after a morning training session at Windy Hill.
“I’m genuinely excited for those younger players who’ve done a lot of work in the past one or two pre-seasons, and a lot of those young men will be getting opportunities to play, which is fantastic.
“It’s just wonderful for players like Danny Chartres, Leroy Jetta, Andrew Lee and Sam Lonergan, all players who’ve put in the hard work and will get to play in prominent positions.”
“We will have a very young midfield. That’s really exciting because if those players come through against Brisbane, who I believe will put out a quality side, that’s a great experience.”David Myers and Scott Gumbleton were also confirmed as starters while Jason Winderlich, who has been battling the effects of a bulging disc in his lower back, is the only player likely to miss the remaining pre-season matches.
Andrew Welsh, Brent Stanton, Mark McVeigh, Andrew Lovett, Jobe Watson, Alwyn Davey and Adam Ramanauskas have all been ruled out of the match but Knights said he expected to have nearly a full list to pick from by round one. He said Lloyd and Lucas were certain to return before then.“Matthew (Lloyd) loves to train, but he probably does too much training at times and we’ve got to get better at pulling him up,” Knights said.
“He’s tightened up in his hamstrings, and we’re going to clear that up over the next few weeks and he’ll be back for the last 2-3 matches before round one and that will be his focus.
“We’re paying diligent attention to load management and for a week or two Scott (Lucas) got a little bit tight in a few areas so we had to back him off.
“And while he wanted to play last week, I told him to wait. But he’s fine, and has completed a major chunk of the pre-season.”
Knights said the intensity and structure of the pre-season meant he hadn’t had time to feel nervous or overawed by the task of taking over from Kevin Sheedy. But this weekend could mark the arrival of some butterflies – and some pressure.
“I guess when I get on the plane to go to the Gold Cost on Friday afternoon it will hit me that it’s game on. No doubt it’s pretty exciting, and there will probably be a few nerves,” he said.
“I don’t think I’ve got a tougher gig than the other four new coaches, I think we’re all in the same boat to a degree.
“We’ve all got different demographics of lists and at different stages, but I’d have thought there’s pressure on every AFL coach and that comes with the industry you’re in.”
Knights was joined at the press conference by Alwyn Davey and Leroy Jetta, who spoke to the media about not only about their hopes to become regular senior players in the 2008, but also about the significance of an apology to the Stolen Generation made by the Federal Government earlier in the day.
“It means a lot to our people who were involved in the Stolen Generation, so it’s a great day for us,” Jetta said.
“Before training we headed up to the boardroom at 9am this morning. Nathan Lovett-Murray is really into it and he spoke to us about it, and told us what a great day it is for Aboriginal people.”
