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Video: Egan impressed with Essendon's list

Saturday, 19 November 2011
Staff writers for essendonfc.com.au
Page 1 of 1

New assistant coach Matthew Egan says the hard work on the training track is starting to pay off for Essendon’s playing group.

Since arriving at the club from Geelong a month ago, Egan said he has noticed a large improvement with the list in that time.

“It has been really interesting to see the improvement and development on the training track already in the time I’ve been with the club,” Egan said.

“I am absolutely loving the move from Geelong to Windy Hill.

“The boys have been terrific and the coaching group is young and enthusiastic. It has been really good fun so far.”

Egan, who played 59 games for Geelong at centre-half back, believes his football experience both on and off the field will benefit the Bombers’ young list.

“I only played for three years in the end with Geelong (due to injury), but I’ve got my experiences from both playing and being injured so I can bring different thoughts in injury management and playing on good players and being at a successful football club in Geelong.”

Playing under former Geelong senior coach Bomber Thompson from 2005-2009, Egan said he was looking forward to being reunited with Thompson at Essendon in a coaching capacity.

“When playing, I found Bomber really motivating on game day,” he said.

“At Geelong, during the week they would work a lot with the assistant coaches but on game day I found him unbelievable and he was clear and really motivating. There was a sense that you really wanted to play for him.

“I’m really looking forward to working alongside him now as an assistant coach.”

Egan said he was excited to work with the Bombers as the club looks to build on its improvement and development in the 2012 season.

“We finished 8^th last year and it was probably disappointing with how that last game ended (against Carlton) so I hope we improve on last year and keep building,” he said.

“I’ll be focusing on our forward line, so I’ll be working with all the forwards during the week to hopefully kick some more goals throughout the season.”

Egan believes Essendon’s current midfield has the ability to carry the side to its next premiership, but said continued hard work and improvement across the board was still vital.

“We’ve still got a lot of learning to do but what I’ve found with our midfield so far is that they’re young and once they do learn a few more skills here and there, they’re only going to get better,” Egan said.

“The training intensity has to lift a little and I think it has so far even though we’ve only been training for two weeks.

“Once the boys have adapted to the training programs and the training side of things overall, I know they’re only going to lift and get better which is a really exciting prospect.”

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Great, sounds like the dons are going to be awesome. Go DONS and thanks Egan

- Rolf Buchner (posted 19/11/2011 12:26:18 PM)

Welcome aboard Matty !!!! Showed great skills in your playing years and great knowledge in your coaching years will be an exciting addition to our coaching panel.... Go Bombers

- Garry Dibella (posted 19/11/2011 1:03:28 PM)

well if our list looking sharp lets aim any try and win our 17 flag that.s what I say

- MARK JONES (posted 19/11/2011 4:22:28 PM)

We agree with you Mathew. Our list is a good one. Give them the right direction and more importantly get them fit and hopefully we shall see sparks fly.

- Alan De Menezes (posted 19/11/2011 7:33:34 PM)

It all sounds good !

- Bill Arthur (posted 20/11/2011 12:32:42 AM)

Welcome to you Matthew, all sounds very promising. Accuracy & strong kicking seems to be lacking in a lot of footballers/teams of late. Hoping you can rectify this. Good luck for season 2012. someone recently (non Dons' fan) described our team as "honourable" I was extremely proud to hear that description from a non football fan.

- Gail Taylor (posted 20/11/2011 9:42:33 AM)

Will be interesting to see what he actually brings to the table for our forward line and whether he's actually a good coach. Having played the game and being out injured hardly makes his credentials stand out from lots of others.

- Clive Craven (posted 20/11/2011 9:44:19 AM)

Let's face facts, he's not going to come out and say anything different, every new coach/assistant says exactly the same, I think he is right about half of our list. then we go from chocolates to boiled lollies big time

- Mark McLachlan (posted 20/11/2011 10:46:18 AM)

what is happening with HURLEY???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

- Shayne Formica (posted 20/11/2011 11:57:11 AM)

DOUBLE-DOUBLE: If it happens I wouldn't be adverse to Essendon selecting #19 Elliott Kavanagh, Wall St Warrior, high risk = high return. And #31 Mitchell Grigg, Lloyd's of London, blue-chip insurance policy.

- Martin Gol (posted 20/11/2011 2:07:23 PM)

what else could he say he just got the job and wants to keep it if he is right then TOP 4 finish is required

- Norman Barr (posted 20/11/2011 2:47:44 PM)

If it was down to Tom Sheridan and Elliott Kavanagh.Both sound very promising mifielders with excellent creditials,only downside with Elliott.He has had recurring hamstring injuries,so would definately go for the Sheridan.Essendon supporter to boot.Not realizing that GWS can go after our players whos contract run out in 2012.Hope the club is smart about this and now realizes he needs to be signed,before the start of the season.No disruptions.Diane

- Diane Trask (posted 20/11/2011 8:06:56 PM)

Gee, Kavanagh sounds like the kind of midfielder we need, but doing hammies at TAC level when the demands of AFL are so much greater...? Gonna need good'uns in the middle. We really need to get this right. Let's hope his family doctor is also the club's doctor and that the media has blown his hammies out of proportion!

- Kris Bayne (posted 21/11/2011 2:35:00 AM)

Kris, we couldn't be that lucky, or could we...but really hope the club gives him a very wide berth, just not worth the risk

- Mark McLachlan (posted 21/11/2011 9:13:17 AM)

Di, it won't matter how smart the club should be, Hurley's family & manager should & will wait & if offered an "Ablett/Scully" type contract would have to be mental to refuse, the club can't take the risk of causing internal problems with other players, remember GWS have extra cap & the majority of players are untried 18yo so it will be 3-4 years b4 they have to worry about contracts

- Mark McLachlan (posted 21/11/2011 9:18:38 AM)

I am genuinely excited about 2012's prospects! James Hird, you are the shinning light that many of this Bomber Army have been crying out for for so long! There is nothing wrong with being a little less competitive every now and then, because times like this come and instead of being bored with being on top for so long, we get a chance to be genuinely excited, and it's great to hear what these other teams say, knowing the sleeping giant that is ESSENDON has been woken!!! 2012 onwards!!!

- Aaron Salmon (posted 21/11/2011 9:22:56 AM)

Kavanagh, 2 major hammies, 2010 & 2011, coincidence, I don't think so, but I think the wise clubs will err on the side of caution, but Essendon..!!!!

- Mark McLachlan (posted 21/11/2011 9:43:34 AM)

Mark,I know I dont know Hurley intimately.He does strike me as a passionate and very loyal person.I feel like too much has happened at the club for Hurley to leave.Scully also said,because of the disarray at Melbourne and a time when he went away with the club.That they were unprofessional and this had a big part in his decision as well as the money.Our club is not in disarray,also with what happened with Hurley last year,he has seen first hand,how professional we are as a club.PT1.Diane

- Diane Trask (posted 21/11/2011 10:20:59 AM)

Pt2 Hurley will be mad not to look at their offer,who wouldnt.I have confidence in Hurley,that he will look at the offer like he did GC and decline.He has a strong bond the the boys and as I said before.Hurley strikes me as a very loyal person and will keep the number 18 on his back,and help take us to another flag.Diane

- Diane Trask (posted 21/11/2011 10:30:10 AM)

Tom Sheridan,versatile ball winner has elite endurance,aerobic capacity is compared to Cadel Evans.185cm Calder Cannon midfielder.He was ranked top 3 in the endurance test at draft camp. His vision and ability to pick his way through tight spaces,helps open up the game for team mates. Sheridan averaged 25 possessions,including 9.5 contested in the TAC cup,shifting from an outside midfield role to an onballer position. Wow,sounds pretty good to me,and a Essendon supporter to boot.Diane

- Diane Trask (posted 21/11/2011 10:32:40 AM)

Hurley will never be Captain at GWS but every chace to be a Premiership Captain at a club with a great history, an exciting future and a reputation that is unsurpassable.

- Dave Blomley (posted 21/11/2011 10:36:51 AM)

As much as I like the sound of Kavanagh as a player, the injury worries me. The game time lost in Gumbleton, Long, Daniher, Myers and others is sobering. We don't know how the dice will fall but if Markworth or Sheridan are there at 19 they may be a wiser bet for our list development. Myers is a very good player but has taken years to develop due to injury...would Kavanagh present the same problem?

- Wesley Hull (posted 21/11/2011 10:54:19 AM)

Essendon has done everything it can to support Michael Hurley, on and off the field. The club will, of course, continue to do so this season in an effort to keep him, but ultimately it will be his decision. Whatever we do we will never be able to match the cash GWS will dangle before him, an athlete with a minimum frame of earning power. Constantly bugging him about it will not help. As supporters, the best we can do is leave it to the club and show how much we support Hurley as a young person with a job to do and huge decision to make. We as supporters must be realistic about this and understanding.

- Kris Bayne (posted 21/11/2011 11:03:29 AM)

Kavanagh,tore his left hamstring twice.First in august 2010 and in february this year.He is likened to Chris Judd,plays like James Kelly.If the club take on Kavanagh,maybe they might now something other clubs dont know.Lets hope so.The club has a chance to maybe either pick Kavanagh or Sheradan.Both sound good prospects. Diane

- Diane Trask (posted 21/11/2011 11:06:00 AM)

For me, the perfect draft outcome would see Tomlinson (sadly, unlikely) and Sheridan (possible) in red'n'black for 200+ games.

- alec shiffman (posted 21/11/2011 11:10:00 AM)

Wes H is right, as usual. We have enough fragile prospective champions. We need a mid who will get in there almost from Day One and get his hands dirty and on the pill. Kavanagh sounds risky while the likes of Sheridan and Markworth sound solid. Devil you know vs Devil with hammies! It's going to be an interesting draft and I'm sure it will give us fodder for comment for years to come!

- Kris Bayne (posted 21/11/2011 11:15:19 AM)

Spot on Wesley & Kris as usual, always logical, wot's the name of the "kid" from NT who played with Fev, love him to get here somehow later..X-factor

- Mark McLachlan (posted 21/11/2011 12:04:07 PM)

"The Weapon" is how Dean Robinson is described, and judging by some of the comments and from what I've seen, we could expect to see dramatic improvement throughout the list, with particular individuals having breakout seasons in 2012...

- Dennis Green (posted 21/11/2011 12:05:44 PM)

Di, if Hurley stays & gets injured in the next couple of years he gets zero.. 5 year contract with GWS, gets injured, still gets big $$$$, do the math, maybe Sheedy will do something to amend his last 5 years and not stuff up our list anymore

- Mark McLachlan (posted 21/11/2011 12:09:50 PM)

Hi Mark, the kid's name is Waylon Manson and even Fev had big wraps for him. Story is that West Coast has been "hiding" him, though he was playing at Claremont, I think. Risk factor is the homesickness or life priority factor, but could be elite if worked on.

- Wesley Hull (posted 21/11/2011 12:30:29 PM)

He also might not get injured,Mark.Whatifs. I still feel loyalty meand a lot to a young man like Hurley.Diane

- Diane Trask (posted 21/11/2011 1:13:54 PM)

Thanx Wes, will put him on the wish list, we have a couple of "guns" in the making an x-factor would just put the "icing on the cake"

- Mark McLachlan (posted 21/11/2011 2:02:40 PM)

Like reading your passionate posts Mark McL. Re the "risk-factor" which is greater Kavanagh's hamstrings or Manson's home-sickness? I'm quite happy for Essendon to roll the dice on Kavanagh but definitely pick Markworth if he is still a "live" selection.

- Martin Gol (posted 21/11/2011 5:33:59 PM)

I love the idea of picking good kids who are already bomber supporters i.e Zakka. Also the thing in our favour for keeping Hurls is the money Scully and his old man have tied up in their cap. I dont think they will be able to throw enough to get a player of Hurl's calibre to leave a club that is close to winning a flag.

- Nathan O''Brien (posted 21/11/2011 7:30:29 PM)

If everybody's concern about Hurley is on the mark, then we all should be! Irrespective of it all, EFC is a great club howevere when dollars are dangled in front of a 20y/o up & coming star, we will not be able to match it, hopefully I'm wrong! Which is why the club should take a gamble on Fev as a rookie & make him earn it, one mistake, he's out at no expense!

- Joe Bartolo (posted 21/11/2011 7:50:00 PM)