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BABY BOMBERS
Bomber coach Kevin Sheedy paralleled the current Essendon side with the 1993 team and called on Bomber fans to get behind the team as they did in 1993. Essendon came from nowhere in 1993 to win the premiership with a group of young players - known as the ""Baby Bombers."" ""The best thing that can happen to our club is these young players right now. We were pretty similar in 1993 - the whole club got together, all of our fans really joined up and went along. Week by week they kept seeing these young players play exciting games and another good game and another good game. By the time it built up we had an exciting year, with a bunch of new kids that most people didn't even know the names of. Some of them are actually still in the side - it is ten years ago virtually. I think the best remedy that could happen to these young players is to have every Essendon fan at the MCG Friday night cheering for the Bombers,"" Sheedy said.
Bomber coach Kevin Sheedy paralleled the current Essendon side with the 1993 team and called on Bomber fans to get behind the team as they did in 1993. Essendon came from nowhere in 1993 to win the premiership with a group of young players - known as the ""Baby Bombers."" ""The best thing that can happen to our club is these young players right now. We were pretty similar in 1993 - the whole club got together, all of our fans really joined up and went along. Week by week they kept seeing these young players play exciting games and another good game and another good game. By the time it built up we had an exciting year, with a bunch of new kids that most people didn't even know the names of. Some of them are actually still in the side - it is ten years ago virtually. I think the best remedy that could happen to these young players is to have every Essendon fan at the MCG Friday night cheering for the Bombers. That is the soul and passion that comes from the club when you are in dire straights. Out of adversity you are always looking at the positives,"" Sheedy said.
Q. Would you consider play Salmon in the goal square against Carlton? A. Not Friday night. We have two tall players - David Hille is playing quite well and Alessio. Alessio hasn't played as well yet so we need a really great game out of SES - he showed that in the Grand Final and that was his last best game. In fairness to him he had a restricted pre-season. There are a lot of footballers out there at the moment playing in most sides who have had their pre-season restricted, and hopefully start to come good from Round 6 onwards.
Q. We talk about the younger players - are you looking for leadership from some of the older players like Alessio and Misiti? A. I think so but you can have leadership from any player. Kevin Bartlett and Francis Bourke were leaders at 21 and 22.
Q. Who will captain the side on Friday night? A. We haven't made that decision, but you would have to say probably Smok'n Joe is looking pretty good. It is good pressure for him - it might make him play a super game.
James Hird tonight spoke exclusively to the BomberLand website about the injuries he sustained against Fremantle last weekend and a phone conversation he had with teammate Mark McVeigh - the player he collided with. ""I have spoken to Mark about what happened. He felt bad but I told him it wasn’t his fault. He knows that – it was just an unfortunate accident. I want him to put it behind him and play well on Friday night against Carlton,"" Hird said.
