“Potential is a dangerous word but I think David Hille has plenty and hopefully I can pass on some things to him that will assist in his development,” Madden said. “It is not easy to get a ruck combination that works. Fish did a good job, Steve (Alessio) has been good, (David) Hille is getting better and there are a few young blokes to work with. Hopefully in a year or two the ruck won’t be considered a weakness at the club at all.”
Hille is still very much in the learning phase of his career. Unlike other positions on the ground, the ruck is an area where experience is critical. “I think I was at my best between 25 and 28 years of age – perhaps even up to 30,” Madden said. “I went along and watched the practice match last weekend and I think there is lots of potential at all levels.”
Madden said he was more than happy to have returned to Windy Hill. “It is always good to be involved with the Essendon Football Club and it has panned out that our paths have crossed and we are able to get together again which is great,” Madden said.
“I enjoyed my three years at the Kangaroos and the way it worked out they no longer required my assistance so I was available. I ran into Kevin Sheedy and let him know I was available and a few weeks later he called me and asked me to come and assist this season.
“It was the Essendon Football Club asking me to come back so it really was an easy decision. It is just a matter of getting the balance right between family and work commitments and I am pretty sure I am able to balance all those things.”
And on the critical question of just how he would cope working for Kevin Sheedy again - “He has mellowed beautifully. The most important thing is if I disagree with him on something he can’t tell me to go an run 10 laps,” Madden said.
