News

Watson looking forward to new home

Friday, 3 February 2012
Staff writers for essendonfc.com.au
Page 1 of 1

Essendon captain Jobe Watson is confident the club’s new high performance centre at the Melbourne Airport will help in attracting the best players possible to the Bombers.

Watch Watson and James Hird talking to the media here on Bomber TV →

Construction began on the new centre earlier this week with the hope the team will be training at the new base within the next twelve months.

“To combine not only the grounds but also the facilities that go with them is certainly going to help attract players and also get the best out of athletes,” Watson said.

“The frustration has been not being able to have a home ground without having a cricket pitch in the middle of it.

“We have been fortunate in that we have been able to use Victoria Park this pre-season but you want a base and be able to train on grounds that you are familiar with and that you know are of great standard.”

To donate to the Flight Plan click here.

The Bombers captain is entering his tenth pre-season at the club and is excited by the way the team has embraced what has been one of the toughest off season campaigns of his career.

“It has been the most enjoyable pre-season I have been in and I think that is due to the mental stimulation that has been a part of the program by having a new fitness guy at the club,” he said.

“The way the program has been set up it has meant you maximise your time at the club and you maximise your recovery away from the club which I think the guys have really appreciated.”

Fans are welcome to contribute to the Flight Plan fundraising initiative for the new high performance facility by clicking here.

PLAYER PROFILE: Jobe Watson

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seen all the clips and talks on TV about our new ground it looks magnificent can.t wait until it up and going hirdy do more gardening

- MARK JONES (posted 3/02/2012 11:39:50 AM)

The situation at Windy Hill was untenable in this day and age of footy. Size alone was a problem but having to train with a roped-off, no-go area in the middle was crazy. Not really conducive to practicing mid-field set-ups. We need to move, but Windy Hill will always be there, so get your littlies down there, tell them about Reynolds, Coleman, the Danihers, Watson snr., Madden, let them be Hird, Watson jnr. etc., grace the same turf and feel the connection. It's there! Just don't stand on the centre wicket!

- Kris Bayne (posted 3/02/2012 11:53:43 AM)

As much as a move upsets people, training and staying at Windy Hill long term is impractical. We need a top class facility to train and recover in, or we'll get left behind. It doesn't mean our spiritual home still isn't Windy Hill, and there can't be functions there, but we gotta be realistic

- Johann Sebastian-Wilson (posted 3/02/2012 4:25:34 PM)

We know it's a big move, with our history at Windy Hill, it will always be in our hearts. We as a club ( members & supporters are the club) need to ensure the success of our move, and encourage all members & supporters to "put the shoulder behind" this historic step forward for our great club.It is an opportunity to be part of club History. Do not procrastinate on this one, let's kick a goal, and make it a winner.

- Graeme Coad (posted 3/02/2012 9:32:43 PM)