“He has come back a better footballer… and a better bloke.” These were the words chosen by Paul Chapman to describe embattled teammate Courtenay Dempsey after Essendon’s stunning 64-point triumph over Collingwood at the MCG on Sunday.
Chapman – who had just accumulated 20 disposals, snagged three goals and laid eight bruising tackles to be one of the Bombers best in his team’s upset win – was more than happy to divert the attention away from his own stellar performance, and instead praise Dempsey.
And why wouldn’t he?
Dempsey’s consistent defensive efforts and ongoing commitment to the cause of his football team since returning from a club imposed banishment to the VFL – due to poor training standards, and a progression of behavioural issues – has been outstanding.
There is little doubt Dempsey’s career as an AFL footballer was at the crossroads with the club sanction in early April.
Dempsey, who had battled form inconsistency over eight injury-riddled seasons for the Bombers before the extended stay with Essendon’s VFL squad, was headed for the football scrapheap
When Mark Thompson was at Geelong, he supported his playing group’s decision in 2007 to indefinitely ban a wayward Steve Johnson from the main group. Now Thompson’s decision to banish Dempsey is paying dividends, just as Johnson’s ban at Geelong did.
Chapman was front and centre at Geelong when the Cats leadership group banished Johnson for the first five games of 2007, after a drinking binge went sour in his home town of Wangaratta. The former Cat believes the firm decision imposed on Dempsey by the Bombers has been beneficial for both player and club. The 264-game veteran is adamant the tough but fair stance by Essendon on Dempsey has made him a much more balanced footballer and individual.
“He is so much more professional now,” Chapman said. “Courtenay is ticking all the boxes during the week and that’s all that we (the playing group) really wanted from him – and it’s starting to show significantly on the field.”
There have never been any misgivings about Dempsey’s talent and his ability to impact a game of football. Handpicked to the Essendon Football Club in 2005 by former coach Kevin Sheedy, Dempsey’s line-breaking runs were his trademarks in the 88 games prior to his spell in the VFL.
Unfortunately for Essendon though, this offensive flair was inconsistent and often came at the expense of the all-important defensive side of Dempsey’s game.
But Chapman, who is new to Essendon in 2014, thinks the rest of the Essendon cohort have noticed a significant change in attitude towards the defensive area of Dempsey’s game since he returned to the senior line-up on Anzac Day in Round 6.
Dempsey has averaged four tackles a game in his 11 outings this season, including eighteen in his last 3 games against Geelong, Port Adelaide and Collingwood.
Dempsey’s new defensive mindset has not gone unnoticed internally at Bomberland, and his tackling efforts have been an inspiration to the rest of the team.
“The way he has approached his footy and the way he tackles has been inspiring for the rest of the boys to follow,” Chapman said.
“It has been mentioned already (to the group) about the way Courtenay has been going and he just seems to be getting better and better – which is great.”
With six games remaining in the home-and-away season, and possible September action for the Bombers, Courtenay Dempsey has the opportunity continue his remarkable renaissance as an AFL footballer, which most would have thought near impossible nearly five months ago.
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