Essendon coach James Hird hasn't altered his expectations for 2011 despite his side's berth in the NAB Cup Grand Final and exciting pre-season form.
Hird, in his first season in charge of the Bombers, said the NAB Cup's importance came in putting into practice training procedures developed throughout the pre-season.
""Expectations haven’t changed at all,"" Hird told media at a press conference at AFL House on Thursday.
""We've said all through pre-season and where we are now, that we've wanted to improve, and that's what we're trying to do. Our expectations are all about the improvement and that's still to come,"" Hird said.
The new Essendon coach said while the side had developed in several important categories over summer, it was still yet to be tested at AFL level.
""We've got a group of players who want to learn, are willing to listen, and have improved in [certain] areas,"" Hird said.
""They've got a little bit fitter, they're kicking the ball a bit better, they're contesting around the ball a bit more, and that's been important for where we are.""
""But they haven’t been tested in a game at AFL level. I think that this game will be another increase in intensity from last week's game and then round one will be another increase in intensity again,"" Hird said.
Despite suggesting its focus was on round one, Hird has picked close to a full-strength side to take on Collingwood, with Tayte Pears, Scott Gumbleton, Henry Slattery and Alwyn Davey missing through injury.
""We've rotated a fair bit of our squad. Jobe's played two-and-a-half games, (Dustin) Fletcher didn't play last week, David Hille hasn't played yet, we were able to rotate McVeigh and (Brent) Stanton a lot last weekend, but we thought we'd get our best side out there. They need to play together as much as possible,"" Hird said.
Hird, in his first season in charge of the Bombers, said the NAB Cup's importance came in putting into practice training procedures developed throughout the pre-season.
""Expectations haven’t changed at all,"" Hird told media at a press conference at AFL House on Thursday.
""We've said all through pre-season and where we are now, that we've wanted to improve, and that's what we're trying to do. Our expectations are all about the improvement and that's still to come,"" Hird said.
The new Essendon coach said while the side had developed in several important categories over summer, it was still yet to be tested at AFL level.
""We've got a group of players who want to learn, are willing to listen, and have improved in [certain] areas,"" Hird said.
""They've got a little bit fitter, they're kicking the ball a bit better, they're contesting around the ball a bit more, and that's been important for where we are.""
""But they haven’t been tested in a game at AFL level. I think that this game will be another increase in intensity from last week's game and then round one will be another increase in intensity again,"" Hird said.
Despite suggesting its focus was on round one, Hird has picked close to a full-strength side to take on Collingwood, with Tayte Pears, Scott Gumbleton, Henry Slattery and Alwyn Davey missing through injury.
""We've rotated a fair bit of our squad. Jobe's played two-and-a-half games, (Dustin) Fletcher didn't play last week, David Hille hasn't played yet, we were able to rotate McVeigh and (Brent) Stanton a lot last weekend, but we thought we'd get our best side out there. They need to play together as much as possible,"" Hird said.
