News

Kavanagh: It hasn't sunk in yet

Sunday, 27 November 2011
Staff writers for essendonfc.com.au
Page 1 of 1

Elliott Kavanagh has been to Windy Hill a fair few times before. Having just completed his VCE at the local Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School, Kavanagh occasionally popped in for casual kick of the footy, slotting goals from the player race or threading passes in front of the Allan Hird Stand.

Watch highlights of Kavanagh here on BomberTV →

He also spent a pre-season at Essendon through his AIS-AFL Academy scholarship, so has strolled up and back Napier Street many times and knows the area well.

Now, he is about to become infinitely more familiar with his Essendon surroundings.

The next time Kavanagh, 18, walks into Windy Hill will be a completely different story after the Bombers took the talented midfielder with pick No.19 in Thursday's NAB AFL Draft. It's a change he hasn't quite got his head around.

"It just hasn't sunk in yet," Kavanagh said.

"It's just like I'll be going to the Essendon Football Club, which I've been to a lot before so the feeling hasn't really sunk in that I'm actually a player there now."

It's something he'll need to get used to quickly, with high hopes for the confident but quiet teenager to inject some more pace and class into Essendon's developing midfield.

Kavanagh fits Essendon's needs perfectly. He has a healthy balance of speed and endurance, wins his own possessions and delivers the ball nicely. Next season – keeping in mind he needs to add some weight to his light frame – he has an eye on a spot on the wing.

After a stunning 2010 year as a bottom-age player, Kavanagh's injury battles – a serious hamstring tendon injury and then a thigh injury at the end of the year – made 2011 a difficult season for the Western Jets' onballer.

He returned and played with the Jets and in the AGVS system, but couldn't recapture the form that saw him rocket up the ranks in 2010. It left recruiters wondering just what to make of his ability, and where he sat in the draft pecking order. Essendon, though, saw enough and were delighted with the selection.

The inevitable questions on his hamstring will remain – he even admits to at times doubting himself through the season – but he is confident that it won't hinder his career.

"You definitely doubt yourself at times and you get frustrated but you have to just grit your teeth, get yourself going and get through it all," he said.

"Obviously Essendon saw something different in me to what other clubs saw and thought it could be an opportunity for me to shine rather than worry about my hamstring."

"It's (the hamstring) going to be something they'll build up and make stronger and manage properly and I think it's good that they're taking it on. I've got full faith it will be fine."

On Monday, Kavanagh's AFL career will begin. He's already had phone calls from a number of players, coaches, board members and CEO Ian Robson – "I didn't expect that many people to be in contact with me that quickly," he said – but things will get serious when he's handed the Bombers' pre-season program and set to task.

He's especially keen on working under coach James Hird and assistant Simon Goodwin, after a childhood of shared AFL club loyalties.

"Early on I was pretty influenced by the Bombers because they were local so I barracked for them pretty early, and then I just chose a team and it was Adelaide so I was a bit half and half," Kavanagh said with a laugh.

"I followed James Hird as a kid and watched a bit of Simon Goodwin as well so it's going to be very good being under him as the midfield coach. It's going to be interesting, it's exciting."

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Congratulations Mr. Elliott Kavanagh, WELCOME TO THE ESSENDON FOOTBALL CLUB. I will enjoy watching your skills on the park, on a regular basis. Look after those hamstrings, mate.

- Nick Tomaras (posted 27/11/2011 11:12:21 AM)

Serious talent like Elliott don't just drop about 15 places in the draft pecking order for no reason, a few of the above paragraphs are a bit of a worry, big difference between just "pulling" a hammy & a serious hamstring injuries, Longy had serious hamstring injuries and never recovered, Hooker keeps "pulling" his & just keeps getting slower, Good luck Elliott, maybe you are the exception to the rule & not the norm and you deserve a break, so it's official, you have suffered enough & are going to have an injury free, flag winning career

- Mark McLachlan (posted 27/11/2011 11:17:06 AM)

Did not have to include the Crows bit. Better a froot-loop I spose than a Bagger, Pie or Hawk! I was thinking die-hard Bomber! Nevermind mate, you are 'one' now. Welcome Rising Star!

- Brad Scarr (posted 27/11/2011 11:51:44 AM)

I'm sure he will get all the help he needs from the club. As Mike Sheahan wrote recently, we need to give these young blokes time. Even a few years. Heppell was exceptional but some will take longer and any doubt about Kavanagh's hammies must be addressed.

- Kris Bayne (posted 27/11/2011 12:27:31 PM)

Although I'm obviously very excited by the potential upside of this kid, does it reflect poorly on us as a side that we're relying on an 18 year old with a bung hamstring to inject class into our midfield?.. Like you, Kav, I have no doubt that our doctors and coaches will get you cherry ripe and have you running on top of the ground in no time. Can they start playing already? :)

- Duncan Eastey (posted 27/11/2011 12:43:04 PM)

This kid sounds so good C Judd will be compared to him soon

- Dave Blomley (posted 27/11/2011 1:26:32 PM)

Welcome to Essendon Elliott. Here's to a long and succesful career in red and black. Let's hope his hammy problems are long behind him and we can develop another rising star to help bolster the Bomber mids.

- Paul Hobbs (posted 27/11/2011 2:35:29 PM)

what about hurley??? Sign him up........... give him a 750-800k season Then work from there

- Shayne Formica (posted 27/11/2011 5:00:00 PM)

If E Kavanagh turns out to be half as good in his first or second year as our Rising star winner,of 2011 he will be a winner !!

- Bill Arthur (posted 27/11/2011 8:05:29 PM)

I may have done this before, and apologies if I have. To see the future, reverse our selection list and see if you like it. Kavanagh, Merrett, O'Brien, Heppell, Davis, Browne, Steinberg, Ross, Hibberd, Melksham, Carlisle, Colyer, Crameri, Howlett, Hardingham, Zaharakis, Hurley, Myers, Pears, Hooker, Bellchambers, Hocking(rookie upgrade). That impressive list of 22 is from 2007 onwards. Here's four emergencies from 2006: Gumbleton, Jetta, Davey, Reimers. Nothing against the pre-2006, just trying to picture the future. Does the future look good?

- Wesley Hull (posted 27/11/2011 8:50:27 PM)

Welcome to the new boys cant wait to see them have run

- steve finch (posted 27/11/2011 10:31:33 PM)

Rookie Matt Jones labrador fc aflq

- steve finch (posted 27/11/2011 10:33:12 PM)

Very good Wes, only 2 I wouldn't have in the side & 1 emergency, very promising line up of untapped talent, supposed to be an exceptional draft next year, should clean out up to 10 & really cement the future

- Mark McLachlan (posted 28/11/2011 10:24:56 AM)

WES got to agree mate when you look at it from that angle it does look mighty good, I think even Premiership good LOL. how bout a few older players to settle them here's 3 watson ,ryder and fletcher. Very exciteed by 2012 and beyond Go The mighty essendon Bombers and welcome Kav to the greatest team in the AFL

- Jeff Skinner (posted 28/11/2011 10:29:38 AM)

Elliott, trust you are in good hands,with a club very familiar with hamstring injuries & managing them. This club has integrity when it comes to player welfare. Looking forward to watching your skills wearing the red & black.WELCOME... ENJOY!!!

- Gail Taylor (posted 28/11/2011 12:31:26 PM)

@ Wesley Hull. just read your comment. does sound extremely promising for the future. Some very exciting players in there. Cheers, Gail

- Gail Taylor (posted 28/11/2011 12:35:14 PM)

The future does look good Wesley Hull.Thanks for putting that together. Hopefully Elliot could brighten up that line up even further. We will have our fingers and toes crossed Mark that he is the exception to the rule.

- Alan De Menezes (posted 28/11/2011 1:49:22 PM)

You'll get used to it Elliott,looking around with all the MK watch recruiting,which Hirdy has largely retained,and enhanced even further.. Yes,the recruiting fruits of BD's & RB's favourite years '08 to '10,and Dods' recruiting in 2011 and the recent draft have set us up well for the new home base inspired successful ERA in the wind,thoughts always in our hopes and dreams.. Go Bombers :-) :-)

- Noel Shields (posted 28/11/2011 2:03:52 PM)

Wes, you have assembled a great list there. Always can rely on you to show us all how lucky we are at Essendon. Elliott, like your honesty. You'll do well within the EFC family. Good luck! :) Angie

- Angeline Baron (posted 28/11/2011 2:43:24 PM)

Maybe the hammy isn't as bad as all the fuss. What if he was asked early in the season to drop off in form and basically fake the second injury with the assurance Essendon would pick him? Just a little story I've heard. True or not I love it. Go Bombers!

- Joel Campbell (posted 28/11/2011 5:24:44 PM)