Luke Holmesby

ESSENDON captain Matthew Lloyd will miss the opening round of the NAB Cup with a minor hamstring injury.

The champion full forward missed Saturday’s intra-club match at Casey Fields with hamstring tightness and Bombers coach Matthew Knights said he would be reluctant to risk his star goal kicker at this early stage of the season.

“Matthew has been a little bit tight in the upper hamstring for a couple of weeks,” Knights said.

“It hasn’t been significant but just yesterday at training it was a little tight again.

“He would have loved to play but it wasn’t worth the risk and we’ll monitor how he goes this week.”

The Bombers began a new chapter of its long and proud history with an encouraging intra-club match at Casey Fields.

It was the first game the club has played since legends Kevin Sheedy and James Hird departed the club.

But the signs are looking promising for the new-look Essendon outfit.

Adam McPhee patrolled the forward half well, while Courtney Johns led well to provide the marking options up forward.

Third-year player Courtenay Dempsey was one of the standouts, getting plenty of the ball and showing a renewed confidence from half back.

Knights said Dempsey had shaken the injury troubles that plagued him throughout 2007.

“Courtenay has not missed a training session for four months and last year he missed every second week with a hamstring,” Knights said.

“Now what you’re seeing is Courteney Dempsey with some training under him and some foundation which makes him a more dangerous player.

Mark McVeigh was one of Essendon’s best out of the middle and the new coach said he would fill the void left by Hird’s retirement.

“James played about 75 per cent of his time in the middle last year there is a gap there that we think someone who is experienced and is a quality player should fill,” Knights said.

“He will play more midfield this year than he has previously and probably a touch more offensive.”