News

Three big Bomber debuts on Friday night

Tuesday, 9 February 2010
Staff writers for essendonfc.com.au
Page 1 of 1

Matthew Knights says Bomber fans have plenty to look forward to on Friday night with Jake Melksham, Michael Still and Mark Williams all making their debut for the club at Subiaco.

“We’re really excited about Jake Melksham, our first pick in the National Draft (No.10 overall), playing on Friday night”, Knights said.

To watch the Knights media conference click here.

Key-forward prospect Michael Still, who was selected in the 2008 National Draft, will also debut for the Bombers.

The strong marking 18-year-old kicked two goals and was impressive in last week's intra-club game and has overcome the leg injuries that haunted him in 2009.

“It will be good to have those two youngsters out there,” Knights said.

"Michael Still was taken as a 17-year-old at the end of 2008 and did year 12 studies last year while at the club so he is the still the same age as our first-year players."

Be at the 2010 Season Launch - Etihad Stadium Tuesday 16 March

Knights says that he expects dangerous forward, Mark Williams, to kick 35-40 goals for the Bombers in 2010 and Friday's game will be an important learning experience.

“Mark has done an enormous amount of work with his fitness in the last two months," he said.

“We’ll be looking to him to kick goals and set up some others.'

Michael Hurley is also up for selection this week however Knights said the club will first decide on a course of action for his post-season assault charge.

“The reality is that he’s fit enough to go - his wrist has recovered beautifully - but we’ll make that decision in the next couple of days," Knights said.

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PLAYER PROFILE: Jake Melksham
PLAYER PROFILE: Mark Williams
PLAYER PROFILE: Michael Still

Your comments

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Exciting to see the new names on the team sheet. Go bombers.

- Jeff Forster (posted 9/02/2010 11:44:02 AM)

Gumbleton, too injury prone. I think its going to be a very short career. As for Essendon this week, im expecting a win over the much improved eagles! Can't wait to watch it!

- DAVID MILANA (posted 9/02/2010 12:06:24 PM)

David Husk, I wish I could understand what you write... Unfortunately, im continuously lost... lol

- DAVID MILANA (posted 9/02/2010 12:12:28 PM)

It's great to see Michael Still play his first NAB game i personally think if he can have a real break out preseason he can really put pressure on our first choice key forwards this year.

- Dominic Lauricella (posted 9/02/2010 12:13:23 PM)

Go the New baby Bombers! Blitz the eagles...

- Luke Templer (posted 9/02/2010 12:20:25 PM)

another essay

- Michael Bear (posted 9/02/2010 12:32:38 PM)

david, settle down. parts 1 2 & 3. listening to evie was better. cheers.

- Charlie Monforte (posted 9/02/2010 12:48:09 PM)

Looking forward to seing the boys 8.30 Friday on Channel 7. Go bombers!

- Anthony Montalto (posted 9/02/2010 12:58:13 PM)

I hope there is more than 3 debutants..I would love to see the likes of Long, Carlisle, Hardingham, Marigliani, Silverlock, Howlett,I know I am being selfish but just can't wait to see the new guys "{strut their stuff" I would like to see the best 18 probables plus 6 of the new kids, but will really just be happy to see the TEAM playing again, best of luck to all

- Mark McLachlan (posted 9/02/2010 1:38:47 PM)

good luck to all the boys... go raise some hell at subi

- Aleks Von Ravenstien (posted 9/02/2010 1:40:20 PM)

I am beginning to think David Husk is just a spammer as absolutely nothing he wrote is even remotely related to the 3 boys debuting on Friday night... Jake, Michael and Mark, I went and watched you play in Shepparton on Friday night and I must say I was bloody impressed with what I saw. Good Luck in WA ...and I totally agree with Dominic L.

- David Meredith (posted 9/02/2010 1:50:18 PM)

i think this time next year, michael still will be our number 1 forward... hes goin to be a gun. since being at the club, he has flown under the radar big time

- afradopilious frette (posted 9/02/2010 1:52:52 PM)

Just wondering when the new guys will receive their guerneys, or if this has already happened, when will their numbers be posted on the website?

- Heath Martin (posted 9/02/2010 2:10:53 PM)

Huskie, there is more to learning & passing on knowledge. Is the environment condusive to learning. Is the culture right. Is the person/s passing on info respected, what is there culture. What is the thoughts of the hierarchy, are they to be trusted. All this relates to a young team and the Club they serve and those in trust to pass it on.

- Neville Brooker (posted 9/02/2010 2:11:06 PM)

I'd hate to be selecting the side for Round 1 of the season proper. Discounting injuries there are about 32 players(plus maybe a couple of the draftees)well capable of playing at AFL level. Essendon's depth is good. It's now time for the potential to be converted into output. Lack of experience may well be the Dons greatest handicap in 2010. Should be an exciting and interesting year.

- Geoff Cliff (posted 9/02/2010 2:59:38 PM)

Wow,another amongst us has "written off" Gumbleton... obviously too young to remember the "ultimate injury prone hack" who ENDED UP playing in two Premierships... chap by the name of Dean Wallis... If you happen to like Cricket as well,did "you lot" have similar thoughts on another "hack" named Shane Watson who just reached his 100th ODI,with a man of the match effort ? Short on MEMORY... short on PATIENCE... Good luck Friday boys.. GO BOMBERS!!!

- Noel Shields (posted 9/02/2010 3:11:56 PM)

AS A ESSENDON SUPPORTER IN PERTH IAM NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO A EARLY SEASON FLOGGING

- Dave Davo (posted 9/02/2010 3:31:45 PM)

The best of luck to the team, including the debutants. Just been listening to Paul Kelly's "Leap and Bounds" to get me into the spirit for the return of the AFL for another year...and watching the new breed of Bombers go round again! Carn the Dons...for our first win at Subi vs the Eagles since 2001!

- Maranatha Sao-Mafiti (posted 9/02/2010 3:32:50 PM)

wow it gets really deep on this site. i will keep it simple. GO THE MIGHTY BOMBERS.enough said.

- Michael Wiles (posted 9/02/2010 3:38:16 PM)

Husk, stop your rambling please.

- Ryan Thomas (posted 9/02/2010 3:44:30 PM)

BETTER PLAY TRAVIS COLYER HE WOULD SMASH THE EAGLES.

- Cohlby Giblett (posted 9/02/2010 4:09:51 PM)

needs to build up those arms over the years

- Jonnie Gety (posted 9/02/2010 4:16:16 PM)

If I can grapple at what Mr Husk is on about, I feel he is talking about intuitional change & how the power hierarchy structures (some call it bureaucracy or the ‘Old Guard’) are so instilled & demarcated in The West. Another thing, Mr Knights obviously taught Andrew Lovett to behave & be a role model, & sometimes he failed at EFC - but he was a abysmal at St.Kilda. I say ‘here here’ we reinstate Andrew Lovett for 2010 as a Bomber: it's never too late!

- Jose Bay (posted 9/02/2010 5:07:00 PM)

maybe dont use hurley until late in the preseason the kid can play but forward or back? let the team mold then slot him in where needed

- Daniel Driver (posted 9/02/2010 6:18:52 PM)

Go out and play you best,that all we can ask but have a good feeling about the game in Perth.Poor Dave you are going to have such a miserable year if you think we are going to get a thrashing and if thats how you are going to think for the rest of the season.Diane

- Diane Trask (posted 9/02/2010 6:41:21 PM)

As a perth based essendon supporter and member,ill be at the game friday night..cant wait to c the boys in action!but please have a win,im sick of walking out of subi after a loss,its bloody hard..cheers rozzy

- Matthew Rozvaczy (posted 9/02/2010 7:40:53 PM)

Can we take that as a sort of backhanded positive, Dave Davo? Or a bit of black and red humour, i.e. we KNOW are going to belt them. I don't think you have anything to worry about except worry itself! You might find yourself one of the most unpopular people in Perth at the end of the night!

- Kris Bayne (posted 9/02/2010 8:48:25 PM)

David Husk, yesterday you were quoting/plagerising material from Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Chapter 2 .....check it out with a google ...today at a guess you are manipilating material from Carl Rogers (Humanistic Education). I want to know what David Husk has to say not some plagerised pretense of intellectualism. Just say "Go Bombers", we will understand it and you won't be a found out. Apart from all that, Friday Knight will be the begining of a new and exciting era.

- James Deen (posted 9/02/2010 8:58:54 PM)

Just wondered what supporters think should happen to Hurley. As much as I hate to admit it, I think the club should suspend him. He committed a crime, yes it was a while ago and yes he is a key, but a strong message must be sent to all players that this sort of behaviour is totally unaceptable. A suspension will also deter Hurley from re-offending, which can only be positive. That may sound harsh, but it will benefit all concerned in the long run. Any comments?

- Matt Pocock (posted 9/02/2010 9:31:21 PM)

Ditto Matthew Rozvaczy, Cannot wait to see our boys in action on Friday nite at Subi,no matter what, Footy is back and so are the mighty Bombers,also can't wait to see the team at the CockersTParty on Thursday nite.C'mon Bombers in 2010 !!

- Andrew Rourke (posted 10/02/2010 12:04:17 AM)

DAVE,DID YOU DRIVE YOUR "COMMENTS" OVER THE NULLABOR TO MELB IN YOUR UTE,WHERE YA BEEN BOYO ?!! (going cross-eyed,back to lc) If the Bombers win,hope you enjoy it !! GO Bombers!!

- Noel Shields (posted 10/02/2010 12:48:06 AM)

Hope ur wrong, DAVE DAVO...........

- Nick Tomaras (posted 10/02/2010 3:16:32 AM)

I look forward to years to come with Jake. He may have his own footy jumper then. The one he has on at the moment looks like it old fit David Hille. Bulk up Jake.

- Neil Poyner (posted 10/02/2010 8:49:05 AM)

Matt not sure about suspending Hurley.I am pretty sure he has learnt his lesson.If he does something again then definately suspend him.I will go with ever the club decides as I am sure they will nip it in the bud.Have we even heard both sides yet.David sorry but you are giving me a headache.I have to concentrate to much.Diane

- Diane Trask (posted 10/02/2010 9:47:26 AM)

Matt Pocock - good post, totally agree. EFC probably wants to deal with this without too much outside 'discussion', but you're right and we as supporters should say what we think. We choose to be part of the club by supporting and the club encourages us to do so. We rejoice in the good things but need to take some responsibility in the difficult matters. The general trend, probably AFL-supported, is for clubs to 'police their own'. We cannot sit back and scoff at Carlton, St. Kilda, Geelong, Richmond etc. for their player troubles. Hurley should miss the first 3 rounds in my opinion.

- Kris Bayne (posted 10/02/2010 10:15:15 AM)

When do we find out what numbers the new players are getting and if there are any changes to the existing numbers?

- Andrew Cichello (posted 10/02/2010 11:00:44 AM)

Nick Tomaras, the odds are in favor of Dave being wrong as he is seldom right

- Mark McLachlan (posted 10/02/2010 11:05:42 AM)

Our Bombers have a very very deep list, Knighta has set this club up well with a multitude of players to pick from. If the young guys are up for the big time straight away then there will be some pretty unlucky players missing out. Write down your makeshift team and see how many top players are on the sidelines. Great depth = great pressure. Go Dons.

- Cory Williams (posted 10/02/2010 11:13:02 AM)

hurley is sorry 4 what he did,i agree if he does something again then suspend him ,but let the kid get on with winning games for the dons,cheers briggsy

- Samantha Briggs (posted 10/02/2010 1:06:55 PM)

Kris, I respect that this is the club's decision, I like you just wanted to voice my opinion. The first three rounds as well as the NAB Cup to me seems a little too harsh. Maybe for the NAB Cup, like Carlton did with their players. It might sound like a biased opinion, but really, anything that interrupts a players pre-season these days will come back to bite them in the home & away games.

- Matt Pocock (posted 10/02/2010 1:31:30 PM)

I'm sure Hurley's sorry and that he's learned from this. What he's alleged to have done is very serious, however. If found guilty he will probably enter a first-offender programme. But put in the context of EFC sanctions against McVeigh and Lovell (yes, they were in season), Hurley's sanction needs to be meaningful. We need to ignore who he is and look at what happened (regardless of court decision) and the club policy on such actions. No need to interrupt his pre-season and there is always Bendigo. I said 3 weeks = I hope I am too harsh.

- Kris Bayne (posted 10/02/2010 1:52:30 PM)

Re Hurley, I don't care if he's sorry or that he good player, he should be stood down until this issue is resolved.

- Jeff Forster (posted 10/02/2010 2:34:25 PM)

Kris, exactly right.

- Matt Pocock (posted 10/02/2010 2:55:36 PM)

Kara, none of us want to see Hurley suspended. Though some of us to believe that with the precedence of other player misdemeanours in the past (not just from our club) resulting in club imposed suspensions, this might be the best way to go with him. If I were McVeigh or any other player who has stuffed up recently and the club did not suspend him, I'd be very annoyed. The club probably knows what happened, and they will make the best decision. I agree, innocent until proven guilty in the courts, but i thnk most people in the club know what happened better than the supporters, and they will make a decision accordingly.

- Matt Pocock (posted 10/02/2010 6:02:00 PM)

The thing is, if the club does not suspend Hurley it would be extremely hypocritical as Spike,Lovett & Hislop were suspended for much more minor transgressions, Hurley has been charged with very serious offences (hope he gets off) and age & alcohol can't be used as an excuse, If the Club/does nothing they will be seen as being weak and having rules for some and rules for others & I also think the AFL will step in and give some sort of punishment, don't get me wrong, I desperately want him playing every game, just being realistic..

- Mark McLachlan (posted 10/02/2010 9:45:24 PM)

Jeff a bit harsh saying Hurley should be stood down until the issue is solved.What happens if they keep changing the court case date and its not resolved for another six months,should he be stood down for 6 mths.1st offence,what the club has done seems sufficient to me.Diane

- Diane Trask (posted 11/02/2010 9:20:03 AM)

Essendon Insider,the Age Footy site, saying quote "ESSENDON has quietly admonished its impressive young key position player Michael Hurley by suspending him from tomorrow night's first NAB Cup match as punishment for a post-season incident that has him facing court on assault charges." PLEASE tell me that this is NOT a true statement from the club, if it is it would make the club & leadership group look very weak, & the laughing stock of the AFL as it has been stated for a couple of months that Hurley would NOT play until round 2 NAB cup

- Mark McLachlan (posted 11/02/2010 10:42:46 AM)

Diane, agree delays are an option as the victim has the right not to accept 'proposed terms' on March 5th. My comment is made assuming he does at which time Essendon (and AFL) can consider time already served by Hurley along with activities specified by the court as sufficient punishment. I think Essendon has playing this hand very well so far and Hurley should (fingers crossed) be available come round 1 when it matters.

- Jeff Forster (posted 11/02/2010 10:55:41 AM)

It will be a very difficult decision for the club IF Hurley is found guilty as to what to do, Have they set a precedent with Lovett & Hislop by delisting them for actions that were not law breaking, now we have an incident, IF proven which is in the upper scale of seriousness, with all the media hype about the ammount of assalts occuring in Vic. it will be very very hard to ignore..from an Essendon supporters point of view, I just wish it would go away but the media will crucify Essendon if the club just "sweeps it under the carpet"

- Mark McLachlan (posted 11/02/2010 11:11:17 AM)

Mark McLahclan, that's what I was trying to get at, but your words summed it up much better :)

- Matt Pocock (posted 11/02/2010 11:41:37 AM)

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