News

Hocking says members are key to success

Thursday, 10 November 2011
Staff writers for essendonfc.com.au
Page 1 of 1

Key midfielder Heath Hocking has urged all Bomber supporters to get behind the club following this week’s launch of the 2012 membership campaign.

Hocking, who was elevated to the Bombers’ leadership group in 2011, said all supporters had a role to play in the future success of the club.

“We made a big impact last year with just over 50,000 members which was a club a record and this year we’re pushing to get 60,000 members. We think we’ve got a good fanbase to be able to extend the extra 10,000 fans to turn into supporters,” Hocking said.

“The players and coaching panel are really trying to push for that one day in September in order to win a premiership so we really do need all fans on board to sign up as members to help us get there.

“It is a bold move aiming for 60,000 but that’s what you have to do to move forward in the AFL and we really urged the fans out there to support us by becoming a member. It’s a really good investment if you want to see Essendon back up there again.”

The 23-year-old, who booted 17 goals during the 2011 season, said he was pleased with the development of the team this year.

“We aimed for improvement on the previous year where we finished 14^th and we felt we got that finishing 8^th this year and making it to a finals series,” he said.

“It was obviously disappointing not to do better in that final game (against Carlton) but I think we had a lot of development and improvement through gaining James Hird and Bomber Thompson as coaches and the players have really learnt from them.”

Hocking said that the upcoming move from Windy Hill to Melbourne Airport was vital for the club to reach the ultimate success.

“I think it’s important for Essendon as a team moving forward to really push to have the best facilities in the competition; we really need to top market facilities.”

“While it is hard leaving Windy Hill, we know that if we want to be the best team in the competition we need the best facilities. So far, we’ve had a lot of members and fans really chip in to the Flight Plan project but we’re still calling on all fans to keep getting behind this venture,” he said.

The Bombers have commenced their 2012 pre-season campaign under the guide of coach James Hird and new high performance coach Dean Robinson.

“We’ve had our testing stage to see where blokes are at and that’s always tough to come back to. Dean is really pushing us hard in the weights room to get us stronger and more physical in order to compete with the better teams in the competition,” Hocking said.

“While it is tough at the moment, we just want to keep improving and building on last season and I think the key to that is to develop physically and mentally and then to work on our game style.”

One Team. One Dream -Stand As One. Click here to purchase your 2012 membership today.

PLAYER PROFILE: Heath Hocking

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that's right heath. also winning the hard ball, fast transition to an open forward line and precise finish are keys to success also. in jimmy we trust for 2012.

- Margaret Dickson (posted 11/11/2011 1:41:05 PM)

i SEE GEELONG HAS SIGNED UP mk AS A Coach. end of an era for the cats that is for sure. a new bomber era begins!!

- Margaret Dickson (posted 11/11/2011 1:44:00 PM)

There has been a lot written about the physical work being done to bulk up the boys, EI. I'd love to have a little inkling of how the team is being developed "mentally", as Heath puts it. It may be secret stuff, meant only for the ears of the inner sanctum, however, this aspect of football training would be fascinating to learn about. Angie :) PS Good luck in your training Heath.

- Angeline Baron (posted 11/11/2011 1:50:59 PM)

Margaret, obviously Geelong Football Club does not share your views on Matthew Knights. I wish him all the best for the future. He is a very good man, who gave his best to this Club. Angie

- Angeline Baron (posted 11/11/2011 1:53:15 PM)

They must have moved the sprinkler system to Tullarmarine already?

- Philip Nelson (posted 11/11/2011 2:35:27 PM)

Great that James ignored advice from the self proclaimed "know it all/been everywhere/done everything/magnificent at everything but match lippy shades" and saw that Josh would not get a game here... Think also he agreed with md that after the off field probs,he should be moved on...!!

- Noel Shields (posted 11/11/2011 2:35:42 PM)

Good to see Matthew Little training with us. If we select him, it'll be the Recrut of the year in 2012. Little, Crameri, Hurley all in the forward line.

- al Catraz (posted 11/11/2011 2:42:17 PM)

Will forever be grateful that GWS provided a semi-retirement environment for one.. Last two Coaches had more of an idea of what needed to be done here,hard decisions made,instead of playing/recruiting some odd pet projects as bandaid solutions,in the last stanza of his outstanding career...Left us barren,but mk acted bravely in our best interests,started the rebuild and Hirdy has raised the bar even further..

- Noel Shields (posted 11/11/2011 2:49:19 PM)

2 years later and we're still talking about Knights? move on people, James is in charge move on. Stand as one, one dream! one Team! Proud, United and Excited this is Essendon!

- al Catraz (posted 11/11/2011 3:12:21 PM)

well said Noel...Sheeds is an Essendon legend tho!

- Davor Stanic (posted 11/11/2011 3:15:55 PM)

And let's hope Tulla is a level playing field, there, Philip N! Maybe it is some new training strategy - training on an incline. And speaking of incline, I'm usually not inclined to insult a woman, Margaret Dickson, but, lady, you are still full of it. Funny, is it not, that EFC seems to seek everything Geelong can offer, but that them handing a vital coaching job to Knights is ridiculed by you? "End of an era"? Surely it is the end of a pseudonym, Bobbie D?

- Kris Bayne (posted 11/11/2011 3:20:39 PM)

Angeline, I couldn't disagree with you more about MK and what he did to our club. However, I would rather focus on the positive environment at Essendon now. I am eternally grateful that a new team was installed at the end of 2010, one of our worst seasons in living memory. We are finally on the way up.

- Rob Carew (posted 11/11/2011 3:55:32 PM)

Get over the sentimentallity. Sheedy under-achieved at Essendon, no two ways about it. 4 flags in 25 years, with what he had at his disposal in his career is under-achievment. Knighter put this club on the right path and Hirdy will reap the rewards. Fickle bunch some of you are.

- Josh Byrne (posted 11/11/2011 4:03:16 PM)

heath your a star and all the members from last year will bether again plus sone though its yours and zakkas and myers and melks and peras and hurls and lonergan that will bring us sucsess

- Daniel Driver (posted 11/11/2011 4:09:58 PM)

Interesting to read what Buddha said in the above article, he is a real pro in my opinion.

- Gordon Moss snr (posted 11/11/2011 4:15:55 PM)

Margbob Dickvies, it's well past the time for you to move on, and stop looking back at Sheeds through rose coloured glasses.

- Gordon Moss snr (posted 11/11/2011 4:19:17 PM)

well saaid al catraz. the lemon, lime and bitters brigade need to move on and celebrate succes with us in 2012. go bombers!!

- Margaret Dickson (posted 11/11/2011 4:20:01 PM)

a little too much testosterone on this forum for my liking. we gals are entitled to opinions too you know!

- Margaret Dickson (posted 11/11/2011 4:22:09 PM)

Bomber fans get excited by watching the team play electrifying footy all year round. It was great to see a hard player like Heath Hocking do so well and get promoted to a leadership position. Having said that I hope he becomes more disciplined himself and stays on the ground showing leadership qualities that younger players can learn from and not get clumsily reported and watching the games from the stand. Bring on 2012!

- Kon Stefanopoulos (posted 11/11/2011 4:42:47 PM)

60,000 members......Docklands only holds 54,000 at best!! Quicker we move back to the G the better and rid ourselves of that middle-class stadium!

- Chris Wright (posted 11/11/2011 4:46:45 PM)

Maggie D, Maggie D, Maggie D... You started it, sweaty! (Oops, typo, sorry, that should be 'sweetie'.) We HAVE moved on but you keep 'dragging' us back over your silly, silly bridge, you naughty man. And I'm sure the OKLChargers would be horrified! Angie - deal with him, please! ;-)

- Kris Bayne (posted 11/11/2011 4:53:34 PM)

Looking at some of the photos in the gallery, I reckon Spike might take on Vice Captain next season. And hey, take a look at pics of Fletch! The legend now has guns! :)

- Angeline Baron (posted 11/11/2011 5:06:43 PM)

Buddha mentioned the term "bold move" to describe the pursuit of 60000 members. I think, as a club, we are making many bold moves. Hird, Thompson, Tullamarine. The signs are there that we will leave nothing to chance in chasing glory. Success is yet to be measured, but hope and belief are on the rise.

- Wesley Hull (posted 11/11/2011 5:14:08 PM)

And can we leave the Sheedy bashing. As I said in another post this week, he created a dynasty of sorts after the weakened side we had in the post Reynolds/Coleman era. Four flags, 7 GF's, lost count of total finals, night & pre-season flags, Brownlow winners. That's some underachievement. I truly hope I underachieve to that level in my coaching career. Time and the march of progress caught him, but PLEASE respect what he did for this club.

- Wesley Hull (posted 11/11/2011 5:19:48 PM)

Please get over Matthew Knights people , it's like flogging a dead horse.Move on to another exciting season in 2012.

- PETER DAVIES (posted 11/11/2011 5:24:52 PM)

I have all ready brought my Member ship for 2012 and I will be one 4 life until we win a premiership I can.t wait until the day we win a flag we got to win one soon be for i Turn 50 going on 25 next year so yous all better hurry up and win 1 for me and all the Other fans that been following essendon for years

- MARK JONES (posted 11/11/2011 6:21:36 PM)

The Cats haven't made many mistakes over the last few years & with a strong coach who picks players for their ability not who they are, I think they will be around for a long time yet, not many coach's would have helped Ling & Ottens decide to retire

- Mark McLachlan (posted 11/11/2011 6:55:50 PM)

Spot on Angie

- Mark McLachlan (posted 11/11/2011 7:58:28 PM)

So you admit Bob,you have made the change...pity you can't move on about KS as well... And Rob,I disagree with you,but like you said,time to focus on now... Only one stirrer starts the ball(s) rollin' every time,and my "Coleman" temper rises,like his used to,everytime The Bombers were ridiculed in some way.. How I miss the Great John,he would put the "odd" stirrer in their place... Cheers Noel,and from the ghost of the Dromana Hotel... Go Bombers :-) :-)

- Noel Shields (posted 11/11/2011 8:52:43 PM)

PLEASE everyone get over Matthew Knights, all he did was get us to 8th spot for a flogging, with NO help & Hirdy got us.. oops yep 8th spot for a flogging, but at least he had a super coaching panel to help him, just hope next year he doesn't have the same amount of injuries as Knights did in his last year, that would really be interesting

- Mark McLachlan (posted 11/11/2011 9:25:18 PM)

I see even with a sex change,the views stay the same. Chris even though the club wants 60,000 members,there will members who live overseas. Many live interstate and many come from the country who can only go to a few games,throughout the year. Angie,would love to see Spike as Vice Captain but think it should go to some one like Hurley who will be here for yrs to come. Diane

- Diane Trask (posted 11/11/2011 10:23:26 PM)

comment to peter Davies well said people should get over Matthew Knights glad you said it I love your Comment Hird and Bomber are Leading the way

- MARK JONES (posted 11/11/2011 11:34:55 PM)

Angie, I couldn't agree more. Knighta tried his best, just a square peg in a round hole. Hopefully he can work on the flaws in his coaching at Geelong. I too wish him all the best. That said, onto 2012. Realistically, we should make the finals again, but footy's a strange and evr evolving game. We've still got a hell of a lot of work to do to match it on a consistent basis with the top sides. We're not the most talented team, which means our work rate has to be first rate. Hopefully it's another improved season, just have to wait and see. Go Bombers!

- Matt Pocock (posted 12/11/2011 12:45:53 AM)

Totally in agreement with Wes re Kevin Sheedy. In my time, Essendon has been coached by John Colemen, Jack Clarke, John Birt, Des Tuddenham, Bill Stephen, Barry Davis, Kevin Sheedy, Matthew Knights and now James Hird. Every coach during his time had his detractors yet they gave 100% in effort and commitment to this club. For that they deserve our thanks.

- Martin Gol (posted 12/11/2011 12:14:14 PM)

STRANGE how Heath Hocking gets the nickname "Buddha" from his peers and footy supporters in general. Assume Heath gets the tag because of his surname being the same as that of Garry Hocking whose facial features do indeed resemble those of the ancient religious guru. VERY INTRIGUING.

- Martin Gol (posted 12/11/2011 12:26:34 PM)

Well said about Knighter,Noel Shields = he did the tough delistings that were long overdue. Er,who is md,Noel ?

- Mary Tovey (posted 12/11/2011 7:03:53 PM)

Marg Dickson Mary,a "woman" born well before her time..

- Noel Shields (posted 13/11/2011 4:40:25 PM)

Martin, I have a theory that a young man, surname Hocking, once sat under a tree and recieved spiritual enlightenment (or footy scores)and henceforth all Aussie Rules Hockings shall now be referred to as Buddha. Mind you, this is only a theory.

- Wesley Hull (posted 13/11/2011 8:55:01 PM)

On-Field Success, brings more members the following year......so a bigger improvement in 2012, will bring MORE MEMBERS in 2013.......I'm ONE for 2012, already :)

- Nick Tomaras (posted 14/11/2011 3:57:20 PM)

Essendon Insider, I got a NEW Membership and I was a member last year will I still get the Gold 50,000 Member Card?

- Benny Fowler (posted 15/11/2011 6:09:37 PM)

When we were kids playing footy in the street, we had one "newspaper" footy for about 30 kids, if you didn't fight for the ball, you didn't get a kick. You might want to try this at training, it may instill ball hunger. Sal.

- Sal Trantino (posted 16/11/2011 10:45:45 AM)

Love your post Sal! :) Diane, I would love to see Spike get Vice Captain for 2012, no matter when he's leaving us. He's the right man for the job and I know you agree with me ;) x. Angie

- Angeline Baron (posted 16/11/2011 2:27:04 PM)

EI are we getting member scarf or hat for 2012.

- Ralph Lepore (posted 17/11/2011 1:58:57 PM)

Ralph, members get a cap in 2012. We surveyed the members a while back and it came back with hat/scarf pretty even. Given we have done scarves for the past few years, we have made a change.

- Essendon Insider (posted 17/11/2011 4:45:54 PM)