News

Heppell leads the way for new recruits

Wednesday, 30 November 2011
Staff writers for essendonfc.com.au
Page 1 of 1

It shouldn't have come as a surprise that, in Essendon's warm-up drill on Wednesday, new Bomber Elliott Kavanagh's kicking partner was Dyson Heppell.

Kavanagh, after being selected by the club with pick 19 in last week's NAB AFL Draft, clearly doesn't need to look far for inspiration in his debut season.

"He's given me a little bit of advice," Kavanagh said at Victoria Park, where the club unveiled its three new draftees – Kavanagh, Jackson Merrett and Nick O'Brien.

"He just said to come into the club and to speak up and not be shy and all that kind of stuff. That's the main thing he's driven into us."

The 18-year-old said Heppell had provided a great example of how hard work could translate into success at AFL level, after Heppell's debut season saw him play every game and win the NAB AFL Rising Star.

"I think they're trying to build me up pretty quick and even he (Heppell) has put on a bit of muscle since last year," Kavanagh said.

"They're going to try to build us up and throw us into the deep end."

The trio started at the club on Monday and have been given introductions to the football program, the weights program, the playing list, diet expectations and a standard of training higher than they had ever experiences. Already it has seen some lifestyle adjustments.

"I've been fairly tired after training so I've gone to bed fairly early," said Merrett, a midfielder in same mould of Kavanagh: quick, classy and lightly-built.

Aside from Heppell – who will provide every first-year player with the hope they can immediately play at AFL level – each of Merrett, Kavanagh and O'Brien have identified players within the club who play similar positions and who they can watch and learn from.

Kavanagh highlighted Brent Stanton – "He's an endurance athlete who does a 16 beep test so I'm trying to keep up with him," he said – while Merrett has had his eye on his captain, Jobe Watson. "Being with the midfield group you just try to tag along with Jobe and the other guys who work really hard," he said.

For O'Brien, a medium-sized, hard-working half-forward, Essendon's leading goalkicker in 2011 offers an excellent option.

"I've certainly tried to follow around Stewart Crameri a little bit," he said. "Being that endurance-related lead-up forward, he'll be someone I'll model my program on and take any advice he has."

Quizzed on the health of his hamstring – a question he has received plenty of times and will be asked about much more after an injury-interrupted 2011 – Kavanagh said it was "pretty good" and that he was just "trying to get stuck into training."

And that's what he and Merrett and O'Brien did, none of them looking out of place or overwhelmed.

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sweet go dons

- MARK JONES (posted 30/11/2011 11:47:42 AM)

Andrew Lovett wants 2 play 4 the Bombers i say bring him back we need him

- MARK JONES (posted 30/11/2011 12:08:31 PM)

NAB Cup opener: B: Carlisle, Heppell, Davis HB: Lonergan, Myers, Cachia C: Browne, Watson, Ross CF: Zaharakis, Crameri. Monfries F: Little, Steinberg, O'Brien R: Bellchambers, Ryan, Hocking Interch: Gumbleton, Colyer, Kavanagh, Merrett

- Thomas Faunce (posted 30/11/2011 12:22:09 PM)

Add Lovett (speed) to the mix and the Bombers will be a real force in the middle of the ground over the next few years.

- Simon Wilkinson (posted 30/11/2011 12:23:49 PM)

building!!

- Troel Shields (posted 30/11/2011 12:24:17 PM)

Can see Heppell, Kav, Merrett, Melksham, Howlett and Ryder being an awesome midfield in a few years. Go Bombers

- Brock Wright (posted 30/11/2011 12:36:46 PM)

For the first time in about 8 years I am getting really excited about the season a head. I reckon we have some real potential at this club now. I can't wait for 2012. Looking forward to seeing the young talent coming through. Thomas Faunce you'd be getting excited mate?

- Harry Calaghan (posted 30/11/2011 12:44:20 PM)

I was listening to SEN thismorning and there was talk about Andrew Lovett wanting to come back to Essendon. How does everyone feel about that. I loved watching Lovett at his best!

- Harry Calaghan (posted 30/11/2011 12:45:49 PM)

EI- is Duscher training with the seniors? Should be. Surely a worthy principle that one should reward that type of consistency.

- Thomas Faunce (posted 30/11/2011 1:02:26 PM)

Good stuff. Hirdy and co are on the ball all the younger types really need to build up their bodies. Get Lovett he is super keen and ready to go.

- Ralph Lepore (posted 30/11/2011 1:29:00 PM)

It is so wonderful that they have Heppell there to show them the ropes. Ideal person for the role.

- Alan De Menezes (posted 30/11/2011 1:35:59 PM)

wonder if Andrew lovetts fairy tale ending is a possibility at all?..is it worth the fans letting the club know whether theyre interested on no? EI whats your opinion?.. Everyone else yay or nay? interesting subject...more interesting than the fev thing..tho i wouldnt be against that either

- Ben Cobb (posted 30/11/2011 1:41:17 PM)

if Jimmy brings back his old mate Lovey then that will certainly be some egg on the faces of those that wanted him gone from this great club??

- Troel Shields (posted 30/11/2011 1:42:29 PM)

bring on 2012 bombers

- MARK JONES (posted 30/11/2011 1:43:25 PM)

An analogy for Lovett. When John Lennon left Yoko in the 70's for his "lost weekend" he spent 18 months yahooing with Mai Pang, Harry Nilsson, Alice Cooper and Elton John, drinking New York dry. When he came back to Yoko he made some of his best music with Double Fantasy, before his demise. Question: Has Lovett been on his "lost weekend" and could his best still be ahead? Is it worth finding out?

- Wesley Hull (posted 30/11/2011 1:45:51 PM)

Thomas, haven't seen Ben training with the team. Looks like Long and Little are the only 2 additions at this stage.

- Essendon Insider (posted 30/11/2011 1:46:27 PM)

I thought i knew the list pretty well...who is cachia ?? lol have i missed something.and why did you leave andy lovett out of that line upcome on mate join the lovett train

- Ian Welsh (posted 30/11/2011 1:51:29 PM)

Jesus that was a good read

- Ollie Walmsley (posted 30/11/2011 1:59:07 PM)

Get Lovett

- Anthony Travers (posted 30/11/2011 2:02:36 PM)

Now Wes, when Yoko de-listed Dr Winston O'Boogie ex-Quarry Men and some other team after that, he was picked up in a pre-season draft by Klaus Voorman (a Dodoro-type bass playing original Hamburg groupie) and put together one of his seasons with 'Walls and Bridges' including a stand out performance up front and out of the square in 'Number 9 Dream' which has to rival Hudson's 8 in the helicopter game. Fev and Lovett sounds like a double fantasy and remember it ended with that final Dakota game- not so well.

- Thomas Faunce (posted 30/11/2011 2:08:22 PM)

The changes in the matter of discipline since the end of 2007 has been quite noticeable.. eg.. Lovett/Hurley/Hibberd/Jenkins…Great examples set in each case imo.. :-) An 18/19 yo First Year Rising Star winner,now showing the way to assist the new wave of youngsters... Gee,pretty impressive eh..?! Go Bombers... :-) :-)

- Noel Shields (posted 30/11/2011 3:04:59 PM)

2/ I see by the latest forum "ESSENDON RULES OUT INTEREST IN LOVETT".. that might very well answer you query Mr. Shields..

- Noel Shields (posted 30/11/2011 3:12:49 PM)

Take Lovett. He'll play for free. Its a no lose situation.

- Mathew Foster (posted 30/11/2011 3:26:25 PM)

EFC does not need lovett.

- mark herbert (posted 30/11/2011 8:43:07 PM)

@Thomas F : What about Michael Hibberd, he looked pretty strong at times last year, he'd be "itching" to get another go, don't you think?

- Gail Taylor (posted 1/12/2011 9:22:03 AM)

Gail, yes and probably worth resting Crameri's shoulder a bit longer. So NAB Cup opener: B: Carlisle, Heppell, Davis HB: Lonergan, Myers, Hibberd C: Browne, Watson, Ross CF: Melksham, Zaharakis, Monfries F: Little, Steinberg, O'Brien R: Bellchambers, Ryan, Hocking. Interch: Howlett, C-D, Winders, Gumbleton, Colyer, Kavanagh, Merrett

- Thomas Faunce (posted 1/12/2011 10:13:43 AM)

Thomas, who is this "Ryan" of whom you speak ? Do you have some inside info on the coming rookie draft ?

- alec shiffman (posted 1/12/2011 11:55:56 AM)