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Essendon coach James Hird saw enough positives to keep him happy despite watching his side slump to losses against West Coast and Fremantle in the AFL’s pre-season cup on Sunday.
The successful return of defender Courtenay Dempsey from a serious knee injury, plus the energetic debut of rookie forward Cory Dell’Olio, were rare bright spots for Essendon, who lost to West Coast by 21 points before copping a 36-point hiding at the hands of Fremantle at Patersons Stadium.
The Eagles, still dealing with the loss of star forward Mark LeCras for the season, were the big winners of the night, following up their victory over Essendon with a 20-point triumph over Fremantle, 0.4.6 (30) to 0.1.4 (10) in front of 27,581 fans.
Dempsey, making his first appearance since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in round four last year, only played the first match against the Eagles, but looked sound in tallying seven possessions.
“We need to get four or five games into him just to get that confidence back, but I thought he was pretty good,” Hird said.
Dell’Olio, a 22-year-old snared through last year’s rookie draft, was a constant menace in both games, booting a goal in each to enhance his chances of promotion to Essendon’s senior list.
“He looked really good. His ability to kick goals is fantastic,” Hird said.
“Obviously it wasn’t a great result in terms of wins and losses, but it gave our kids a chance to have a go on the big stage and see how far they have to come.”
Hird said big guns Jobe Watson, Brent Prismall, Dyson Heppell, Heath Hocking and Jason Winderlich were all in line to return against St Kilda in a fortnight.
It was West Coast’s small forwards who did the damage against Essendon in game one, with mid-sized forward Gerrick Weedon and 174cm speedster Ashton Hams combining for four goals to help lift the Eagles to the 0.9.3 (57) to 0.5.6 (36) victory.
Former Bulldogs forward Josh Hill, playing through the midfield and up forward, was serviceable and kicked a late goal to push his case for a permanent spot in the Eagles’ 22.
Impressive Fremantle youngster Lachie Neale put his hand up for the season proper, booting two goals in the Dockers’ 1.7.5 (56) to 0.3.2 (20) triumph over Essendon.
The derby proved to be a tougher affair, with heavy collisions leaving Matt de Boer (ribs) and Jack Darling (head) nursing sore bodies.
Weedon kicked the only goal of the opening half, and Fremantle’s struggle to break through West Coast’s forward press continued after the break, with the Dockers kicking their only goal of the match in the final minute.
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon said he was pleased with the hit-outs despite the heavy loss to West Coast.
“I thought we were quite dominant in the first game and second game the Eagles really got on top around the clearances … and we struggled to get it out of the back half,” Lyon said.
West Coast coach John Worsfold said the high intensity of his players, rather than the two wins, was the most pleasing aspect.
“The intensity of the players all over the field was where we want it,” Worsfold said.
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