News

McVeigh misses Bendigo game

Sunday, 5 July 2009
Craig Rowston for essendonfc.com.au
Page 1 of 1

Essendon veteran Mark McVeigh was a late withdrawal from the Bendigo Bombers side that went down to Casey at Casy Fields today.

McVeigh was suffering general soreness but is expected to be available for Essendon's clash with Sydney on Saturday.

The Scorpions 21.17 (143) defeated the Bombers 5.2 (32) in what was another long day for coach Adrian Hickmott and his players.

Bachar Houli, Michael Hurley and James Flaherty were stand outs in what was a tough game for the side.

"Houli's competitive edge was really good today, and Hurley worked hard all day, playing forward and back, especially on Casey's Brad Miller," Hickmott said.

"Casey are a big strong side, and many of the players have played a lot of AFL football. The important thing is that the guys are learning from every game, and while our skills aren't of the best quality, we are learning.

"We can't dwell on the loss. We need to keep pushing forward and improving every week. If we dwell too much, we'll lose our attack and our confidence."

Bendgio Bombers

Goal Kickers: S. Weekley, T. Bellchambers, J. Williams, B. Houli, M. Quinn.

Best Players: B. Houli, M. Hurley, T. German, J. Flaherty, M. Quinn, D. Myers.

Casey Scorpions

Goal Kickers: M. Newton 4, B. Waite 3, L. Dunn 3, B. Miller 2, A. Silvagni 2, R. Creed, M. Stockdale, P. Johnson, C. Bartram, R. McGough, D. Bell, S. Valenti.

Best Players: D. Bell, P. Johnson, A. Silvagni, J. Wall, M. Stockdale, B. Dunn.

A full match report will be available tomorrow (Monday).

PLAYER PROFILE: Bachar Houli
PLAYER PROFILE: Michael Quinn
PLAYER PROFILE: Michael Hurley

Your comments

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Sorry but I don't believe he pulled out with 'general soreness'.

- Jeff Forster (posted 5/07/2009 7:02:58 PM)

Another loss, not good, oh well better luck next week. I believe we should bring in Hurley, McVeigh and Watson for the game against Sydney. Monfries i heard has hamstring tightness so have him out. Take out Lovett-Murray i think

- Jake Mutton (posted 5/07/2009 7:05:15 PM)

this is a huge concern and an embarressment to the Essendon fc. The Bendigo side this week had a squad that appeared to be mostly Essendon players and still got flogged. The club must act now to ensure this alliance ends this year and we give our young developing list the best opportuntiy with our own or a Melb. based feeder club. Sorry Bendigo you have just not done enough to ensure your team will be competitive with our assistance.

- Leigh Russell (posted 5/07/2009 7:07:26 PM)

good to c hurley dominate looks like he deserves a call up. also tom german looks lyk a great pick up on the rookie list cant wait to c him play and michael quin sounds lyk hes getting the hang on afl. come on knights and call up hurley plzzz. also lets not continue a relationship with bendigo not creating a very good enviroment down ther.

- Nick Holdsworth (posted 5/07/2009 7:08:04 PM)

well said Leigh Russell.... this sort of rubish is totally unacceptable .... it is purely sole destroying... it serves no obvious purpose to JUST be a WHIPPING BOY for the VFL competition... it does not develop our Reserve players in any shape or form... the overall team is only as strong as its weakest link! Our Reserves are purely a laughing stock.

- Wally Mayski (posted 5/07/2009 7:24:12 PM)

what is going on with Spike ? I recken that is a load of crap ! Not good enough from a so called future leader ! Bellchambers has got to come back in to the senior side to help out Ryder and Hurley has got to replace Hooker ! the sooner the better !

- Daniel Hegarty (posted 5/07/2009 7:34:18 PM)

i dont understand how this is happennin every week, there are some very good players in that team in houli, zaharakis, hurley, quinn, bellchambers & neagle. EFC in the off season will be pooring heaps of money into this team to get some quality VFL players. promote houli already, he's been treated so harshly id hav him in the seniors as a permanent member

- David Mitchell Mitchell (posted 5/07/2009 7:38:33 PM)

also i heard knights asked mcveigh not to play because he didnt wanna risk him getting injured for sydney. jarred mcveigh seem to be gone cause of his hammy. another thing ive noticed is itstrange that the last 5 tyms essendn has played collingwood that mcveigh hasnt played?

- Nick Holdsworth (posted 5/07/2009 7:40:11 PM)

Hurley would have to be close for the Sydney game. Nothing suss with McVeigh pulling out. Neagle not kicking any is a worry. Watson and Hurley in next week.

- Nicholas Morrey (posted 5/07/2009 7:46:14 PM)

USE IT OR YOU MAY LOOSE IT.Despite the fact that no one seems to develop in the disgraceful set-up known as the Bendigo Bombers Hurley,Houli,Myers,Jetta and Zaharakis will become elite AFL footballers in the near future(hopefully still at Essendon).However if slightly disgruntled they will become prime targets for other smart clubs no longer able to draft the number of quality kids desired.Dodoro was not wrong the current coaching panel/selectors are to blame. Unfortunately Skipworth,Dyson,McPhee,Slattery,Lovett-Murray and probably Hocking will remain spare part back-up players at best. Hopefully the incorrect preferential treatment given to the latter group will not hinder the development of the former group or our ongoing list management.

- Alan Betts (posted 5/07/2009 7:46:26 PM)

If you miss last week thru suspension and you miss training on Monday how do you get sore? Was ok to attend 8485 dinner. Please Hickmott explain what confidence could possibly still exist - certainly none in your coaching.

- Ross Jones (posted 5/07/2009 7:50:45 PM)

Sore from what?? not playing for 2 weeks..whats going on with him? he would want to come in this week and get plenty of the ball.

- Michael Bear (posted 5/07/2009 7:51:27 PM)

This week please: In: Mark McVeigh, Jobe Watson and Michael Hurley Out: Angus Monfries, Nathan-Lovett Murray and Cale Hooker

- Joseph Attard (posted 5/07/2009 7:59:16 PM)

once Hurley finally makes our seniors I am sure he will never be droped back. CUM ON GIV HURLEY HIS CHANCE!!!!

- Shannon Hudson (posted 5/07/2009 7:59:25 PM)

bring in Houli, spike ,watson , next match against sydney ,,, smallest ground in the comp. would be an advantage for our pacemen with Houli back inthe centre where he plays his best football, also well done to scotty lucas, for getting backing into the snrs, kicking his usual 3+ gaols a game ...... c'on bombers lets beat sydney bigtime.

- Darren Pigott (posted 5/07/2009 8:01:10 PM)

This does not inspire any confidence going forward. Many on this site that Essendon will go forward in the next two years, with results like this, I do not believe this will be the case. Get injuries which have plaqued us for years, it might not be as easy as we think. You need a good back up team which inspires confidence going forward.

- Peter Pischek (posted 5/07/2009 8:03:58 PM)

leigh russell you said it yourself mostly essendon players what is the difference going to be if we aren't with bendigo, essendon f.c. have final say on any matter that concerns essendon playersso get off bendigo's back essendon control them so you kick them you kick essendon

- malcolm fischer (posted 5/07/2009 8:10:27 PM)

Hurley, McVeigh and Watson and certain calls up for this week. I'de love to see Houli get in as well. I don't see Dyson, Lovett-Murray, Slattery, Hocking and Hooker as permanent members of the EFC team. Need to be replaced by Hurley, McVeigh, Watson, Houli and Zaharakis.

- Joseph Attard (posted 5/07/2009 8:35:07 PM)

I BEG YOU PLAY HURLEY NEXT WEEK EVERYONE IS DYING TO SEE WHAT HE CAN DO IF HE PLAYS SO WELL EVERY WEEK BRING HIM IN

- stephanie versace (posted 5/07/2009 8:45:50 PM)

END THIS RIDICULOUS ALLIGNMENT NOW! I AM SICK OF READING ABOUT THESE RIDICULOUS RESULTS EVERY SINGLE WEEK. It's not the fact they lose every week, it's the fact they get absolutely HAMMERED EVERY week. It's so discouraging - why should the younger players on our list have to put up with this EVERY week? How is this helping their development? IT'S NOT. I will refuse to become a member of EFC next year if we continue with this embarrassing alignment.

- Matthew McCarthy (posted 5/07/2009 8:49:46 PM)

great news for all bomber fans, i think ins and outs should be like this ins- hurley, watson, mcveigh, bachar outs - monfries (injury), hooker, hocking/dyson and NLM ANYONE AGREE ???

- ibby bachar (posted 5/07/2009 8:58:15 PM)

Oh boy.. So we lose to Melb reserves! Just when i thought they couldn't be any worse! Take Hurley out of that misery and bring him in the afl, he deserves better!

- Leigh Farrugia (posted 5/07/2009 9:02:07 PM)

Well said Alan Betts, spot on.

- neil Sinclair (posted 5/07/2009 9:03:11 PM)

Mcveigh should play against the swans and play well having two weeks to get his head and body right. Watson should be rested he has been really good this year i don't want to see him rushed back under 100 percent. Hopefully hurley's wrist is now all healed, one more game in the vfl should give him all the form he will need to take on the bulldogs. Dyson, hocking and lovett-murray if given another chance against the swans are going to need to play very good games to keep out houli, hurley and watson (once fully fit).

- Dominic Lauricella (posted 5/07/2009 9:11:28 PM)

Hurley has to be promoted, in our best every week and not dropped due to discipline or form, only injury, he is the future bring him in now for NLM, or many others

- Peter Ridgway (posted 5/07/2009 9:16:35 PM)

Bendigo based players are just not good enough!

- Stefan Hruszowski (posted 5/07/2009 9:28:04 PM)

GET HURLEY IN THE SIDE....DROP HOOKER....DROP ANYONE!!!! DROP LLOYD IF U HAVE TO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- Sadeq Abbasszadeh (posted 5/07/2009 10:09:03 PM)

I can not see the reason why Hurley would not get a chance in the seniors this week, because if he was on the swans list he would b playing. if he doesn't and the swans win, I can only see negatives. I GUESS I AM HURLEYS BIGGEST FAN.

- Shannon Hudson (posted 5/07/2009 10:39:16 PM)

I went on Friday night and again on Sunday afternoon, God what a pathetic weekend !!! But hope springs eternal Keep the faith

- tom amos (posted 5/07/2009 10:53:08 PM)

hurley is only a first year player no need to rush him

- Brett Martin (posted 5/07/2009 11:10:14 PM)

mcveigh pulled out because he had a hangover

- steve finch (posted 5/07/2009 11:28:52 PM)

Even though McVeigh deserved the susp,i would'nt want to play in that horrible Bendigo side either!Could u imagine how piised off you'd be if u got injured!!!!Esp after being out 2 wks already!Goodness sake i agree,END THIS SHAM of a set up.And get Hurley OUT of that team& playing senior footy,what a waste playing at Bendigo!Gee,this kid would get a game at Geelong RIGHT NOW!

- Mark Elze (posted 5/07/2009 11:44:06 PM)

Geez, I really can't understand how this Bendigo side can be sooooo bad????? Surely a team with AFL players on the list must be able to win a game at some point in the season? Are the non AFL players who play for Bendigo completely non professional players? It sounds like it's the local team with a few AFL players in it.

- Terri Xuereb (posted 6/07/2009 12:33:04 AM)

General soreness from two weeks off? There's something going on there that we don't know about. Agreed, Hooker for Hurley. Or NLM, as much as I like him. I think Hurley has to be there. Would like to see Houli for Skipworth too, but that's unlikely to happen I guess.

- Andrew Dunsy (posted 6/07/2009 1:59:07 AM)

we shuold make our own vfl team next season because bendigo is just not good enough even there home ground is not up to vfl standings so next season hoping 2 see a vfl essendon side DONT LET ME DOWN!!!!!

- jon grima (posted 6/07/2009 7:04:52 AM)

Bendigo has lost every game by an average 0f 10 goals, Hickmonts response is to look forward, to what I ask. Knighter what has Houli done to you to deserve being left among this dismal side I feel he may look else where. As for Bendigo time for some tough decisions. New coaching panel, quality VLF players that can teach the new wave of Baby Bombers and lead by example. Come on Dons make the hard call.

- Philip Butler (posted 6/07/2009 7:20:31 AM)

General soreness of the elbow? Shouldn't stop him from playing next week!

- Stefan Hruszowski (posted 6/07/2009 9:13:17 AM)

How can you drop Hooker. The Bombers need a backup Ruckman. Who else is going to do it. Sometimes players are put in positions for the team. I am sure Hooker's form would be better as a permanent back.

- Edward Stunnell (posted 6/07/2009 9:15:02 AM)

bring in houli! give him a chance. also neagle and hurley these 2 players need afl experience if they are replacing lloyd and fletcher in the future, id much rather see them getting a run and experience now rather then later. i think hooker should be dropped against sydney and bring in bellchambers after the collingwood game, ryder needs a rest now and again hooker is sumply not good enough to play in the ruck.

- Jason Grech (posted 6/07/2009 9:40:45 AM)

As stated, MOST of Bendigo's team are Essendon listed players, so even x leaving Bendigo the results would be similar, most of these are only kids,I agree as Skippy has been in our best players nearly every week & gets the hard ball he should be dropped, drop Priss also if he keeps playing well, Houli will be ok, but remember most of his possessions under pressure were clangers, he will be a good player next year

- Mark McLachlan (posted 6/07/2009 10:06:37 AM)

i think we should be on our own in the vfl, it might be hard at first but we can't be any worse of then we are now, bendigo is simply not doing enough and it's our money we put in to keep the club viable, and i would like to see hurley in the seniors, and i would like to see if we can at least trade some players for a backup ruckman for hill, we are burning paddy out, he can't ruck all year it's to long.

- Paul Pascuzzi (posted 6/07/2009 10:07:38 AM)

Bellchambers is the obvious replacement for Hooker Edward Stunnell. Played two games in VFL now.

- Andrew Dunsy (posted 6/07/2009 10:16:29 AM)

Couldn't agree more Malcolm Fischer, These people bagging the alliance between Essendon and Bendigo, need to get their head around the fact That it is practically ran by Essendon. They pick the coach and put the players forward to play in certain positions. The ironic thing is most of these people bag anyone who puts forward critism of the Essendon team.

- Chris Blackberry (posted 6/07/2009 10:23:37 AM)

The fact that players like McVeigh are too big to play seconds is the worrying concern. He will no doubtedly play this weekend without a run for three weeks after only starting to get some miles under his belt after injury. That in itself is ludicrous. Maybe some of his supposed leadership is what the young Bendigo Bombers needed to get, like Scotty Lucas would have gave to them when he went back. Well done Scotty, wake up and Smell the roses McVeigh. Maybe you should of hopped on the plane with Solomon

- Chris Blackberry (posted 6/07/2009 10:26:21 AM)

General soreness of the elbow? Been liftin too many lagers by the sounds of it. Harden up Spike and get of the beers. If i pulled these antics at work i would be sacked

- Peter John Werth (posted 6/07/2009 10:28:47 AM)

Seems that injuries have depleted our reserves.Hooker has played well in the backline on tall forwards. Bring Bell Chambers in as soon as possible. Give Houli another chance in Sydney in place of Watson.

- Rodney Broadbent (posted 6/07/2009 11:03:02 AM)

I believe Hurley is a must in and senior players Mcviegh and Watson need to come in as they are our best inside midfielders. I dont see any room for hocking, hes more of a tagger/small defender and we have Slattery and Welsh. In my opinion i see - Mcveigh, Watson, Hurley coming in for Hocking, Monfries, Dyson. I believe Dyson is a good player but we have better on the list. I also think spike shud take Okeefe, play a role like he did on Porplyzia. Welsh to go to Mcviegh.

- Dan Hines (posted 6/07/2009 11:03:33 AM)

Whats really worrying about this result is casey is affiliated to Melbourne. How could their VFL side be better than ours? It would be great to see Essendon break away from Bendigo and enter the VFL with there on side. I'd be very keen to head to windy hill and watch the 2nds play is it was actually Essendon.

- Matthew Baker (posted 6/07/2009 11:03:53 AM)

lets see hurley in the bombers side against sydney he deserves it. These results are not good for our senior games as our confidence will go downhill if this keeps on going

- Noah Smyth (posted 6/07/2009 11:13:51 AM)

Rodney, you're joking if you want to put Houli in ahead of Watson. Maybe if Monfries isn't fit but not Jobe. Was obvious against Pies we need a star tall backman and Hurley should be in if fit. Ryder was wasted in the ruck on Fri- had only 4 kicks, 6 handballs and 3 marks. He'd get more at CHF or CHB- Bring in Bellchambers to help against Jolley. Push on Bombers and McVeigh owes the club a big effort.

- Luke Dummett (posted 6/07/2009 12:11:52 PM)

this week theres going to be alot of ins and outs i would predict. and this is how it should be (correct me if im wrong) outs - hooker, NLM, hocking,dyson (or both) ins- hurley, houli, mcveigh, watson

- ibby bachar (posted 6/07/2009 2:00:16 PM)

Hurley and Zaharakis should be in the top 22 without a doubt, stop the favouritism Knights!

- Philip Martin (posted 6/07/2009 5:14:34 PM)

OUTS - NLM, hooker, hocking, monfries, dyson, skipworth INS- hurley, houli, watson, mcveigh, bellchambers, myers

- ibby bachar (posted 6/07/2009 5:19:45 PM)

Ibby bachar sorry mate you cat drop Hooker he is far better than bellchambers proven early in VFL and respectable AFL. NLM provides great run and is vital to our structure and style i see why people would think skippy and dys needa go to the 2's but theyve been commendable and we did pick skippy ahead of cousins. Myers isnt ready. Houli yeh he shud be in. Not too many changes EFC we did beat a top 8 contender by 12 goals a week back,.

- Dan Hines (posted 6/07/2009 10:39:05 PM)

D I S G R A C E F U L Bendigo!!!!! Only change ide make is monfries and Dyson out, Mcveigh and Watson in, and if i had to bring Hurley in, ide substitute Mcphee or Slatts as he has poor decision making, not creative enuf..

- Gee Bomber (posted 7/07/2009 5:37:00 AM)

"general soreness" I don't think so either Jeff.

- Jezza Chau (posted 7/07/2009 7:41:57 AM)

I feel so sorry for our listed players having to play and suffer with Bendigo. Losing every game by an average of 100 points. All they'll learn is the same losing culture that Knights is used to from his Richmond days. How the hell can that be grooming for the rigours of AFL standards??? I've been to 3 Bendigo games this year and the ball don't get into our forward line enough for the likes of Neagle and Williams to learn what is required for their next step up. Same with the rest of our listed players.

- Ivar Biggen (posted 7/07/2009 12:17:25 PM)

Part 2. And when on the odd occasion it does they get blanketed by the opposition and don't have much idea of what to do so the ball is swept out of our forward line with ease. Time to end this association and have our own reserves training and playing at our great home "Windy Hill". Regards Ivar.

- Ivar Biggen (posted 7/07/2009 12:18:10 PM)

P.S. Looking at them comming off the ground at the end of the games I get the impression that they have accepted that the thrashings are their normal part of football life. Regards Ivar.

- Ivar Biggen (posted 7/07/2009 12:27:37 PM)

attention: Joseph attard and ibby bachar if you are taking hooker out and not bringing bellchambers in we will get belted because we wont have a ruck after 3/4 time. the best 22 isnt who you think the best 22 avail. at windy hill. think about what u say.

- Terrence stanley (posted 7/07/2009 1:10:51 PM)

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