Speaking before training this morning Sheedy claimed that there would be a number of new faces in the line up. ""I’ve spoken to the players before we came out to training this morning and I think we will most likely play a first gamer, possibly two. Definitely Matthew Allan and Justin Murphy will play their first game,"" he said.
Sheedy was excited at the prospect of naming two experienced for this weekends clash. ""If they put their hand up and they play well for us for the year then that will be a fantastic bonus,"" he said.
The coach was coy about the origins of Allan and Murphy. ""There wouldn’t be that many Carlton players that we have had at Essendon that would walk into the side straight away. If anyone. I am not quite sure, even if you go back 20 years then I think this would be the first time we have two players from Carlton,"" he quipped.
Sheedy acknowledged that both players may have something to prove this season at Essendon. ""Allan has played good footy, he has been an All-Australian player in 1999, and I have said in the past that if Murphy can play really well for Essendon for a year or two then that would be a fantastic bonus for us,"" he said.
He also said that a number of younger players had a great opportunity this weekend. ""I think players like Joel Reynolds and Aaron Henneman and those sorts of boys will make a stand. And (Kepler) Bradley will come up, in regards of selection,"" he said.
The task this weekend against Port Adelaide is tough. Recent history suggests the Bombers may struggle considering they have been beaten on the five previous occasions these clubs have met - two of those in semi-finals. And their record at the venue isn’t great either, having won just four or their 15 games at AAMI Stadium.
Sheedy was quick though to put the pressure on counterpart Mark Williams.
""Obviously they would have been disappointed in the last couple of years. They have been easily the best team during the season with their performances. They’re probably a pretty frustrated team over there. They have been into Port all summer, Mark Williams has copped a bit of a belting,"" Sheedy said.
""So you never know what we can do in a first quarter to surprise everybody. Do a few things that might make people think about footy again,’ he said.
Essendon v Port Adelaide recent record:
Played 12 times: Port Adelaide 7 – Essendon 5 (results of last five games listed below)
2001 – Rnd 17 Port Adelaide 15.14 (104) d Essendon 14.13 (97) – Football Park
2002 – Rnd 11 Port Adelaide 16.12 (108) d Essendon 7.7 (49) – Colonial Stadium
2002 – Semi Final Port Adelaide 11.17 (83) d Essendon 8.11 (59) – AAMI Stadium
2003 – Rnd 9 Port Adelaide 23.8 (146) d Essendon 14.12 (96) – The Dome
2003 – Semi Final Port Adelaide 12.11 (83) d Essendon 6.8 (44) – AAMI Stadium
Special offer for BomberLand users:
The first 20 people to contact Hayley Xuereb on (03) 9230 0304 at the Windy Hill Social Club will receive a free double pass to attend the Beach Balls Cabaret Show (Beach Boys Tribute Band) this Friday night at the Social Club.
