Essendon have put their injury-ruined season behind them and predicted an across-the-board lift in form in 2009. The Bombers were decimated by a raft of serious injuries which contributed to their 12th-place finish on the AFL ladder this year.
But as the side returned to training today, coach Matthew Knights said supporters could expect a different team next year as key players were gradually integrated back into the squad.
“I would expect that we would definitely have improvement next year in a number of areas of our game,” Knights said.
“In putting a specific on what parts we’re obviously working through that at the moment with the coaching group and the players.
“But you would expect the players to improve and our game style to develop.
“And we will continue to put games through young players who deserve them so we can continue to expand on our experience.”
Knights said after this season’s problems the club would try to do everything it could to avoid a repeat of the issue.
“We can only make sure that in every department and everywhere we are doing things to the maximum of professionalism,” he said.
“Whether it’s training or recovery or diet we have to do everything right and come game day you just have to let the boys rip.
“The guys that we’ve got who are training have all been fine and their attitude’s been first class…the guys who are on graded rehabs, we’ve just got to take them a bit more slowly and more cautiously.
“Obviously late last year we had a lot of guys who went through operations and were a little bit sore so we’re really mindful of bringing them on gradually.
“There’s probably 20 to 22 in the main training group and another 14 in rehab programs at the moment.
“But those guys will be integrated back in in the next four to six weeks.
“I would assume by the end of November that we would have most of them up and running,” Knights said.
Midfielder Brent Prismall, picked up by the Bombers from Geelong during AFL trade week, went through a warm-up session today.
Prismall underwent a knee reconstruction after being injured during this year’s qualifying final and wants to play in round one but Knight said he would have to “temper his ambition a little bit.”
But small forward Alwyn Davey will be ready to play at the start of the season following a serious knee injury.
“Alwyn is fine. His recovery from his cruciate injury has been fantastic, we have actually had to slow him down a little bit.” he said.
Stoffy
Guest
It will certainly be interesting to see how the pre-season unfolds for the Dons. if fitness is on our side, the benefits are there to be reaped. The 'L' factor (Lloyd, Lucas, Lovett, Lonergan) remains a driving force behind the Bombers success. Not sure if our defensive pressure will keep the forwards at bay, although the Dons ability to run with the ball 'efficiently' became blatantly more obvious last season. Looking forward to a big season 2009.