It’s been a big week for the Bombers. Sorry, we mean Essendon.
As news filtered through this week that the club was considering feedback which questioned the organisation’s famous fighter plane emblem, several big names came out in opposition to any change.
Matthew Lloyd doesn’t want the Bombers logo to change.Credit: The Age
Not least of whom was Matthew Lloyd, the 12-time Essendon leading goalkicker who told Nine’s Footy Classified he’d be “very disappointed” if his former club altered part of its fabric.
This weekend, Lloyd will go head-to-head with the man who succeeded him as Essendon captain, Jobe Watson, when Haileybury takes on Xavier College in school footy.
And in the context of the season, it’s a significant game.
Lloyd’s Haileybury, which includes likely first-round draft pick Archie Roberts, are undefeated after six games and the only rival to the all-conquering Caulfield Grammar – who are packed full of scholarship stars – for the APS premiership.
Watson’s Xavier has also had a strong season, although two losses and a recent draw with Carey – coached by former Carlton caretaker coach John Barker – means they won’t be holding up the silverware this year.
The first XVIII players of both schools have access to some pretty elite mentors. Not only are Lloyd and Watson senior coaches, but Lloyd is flanked by Collingwood legend Scott Pendlebury, while Watson is aided by Xavier’s head of football, former Carlton assistant Dale Amos.
Saturday’s game will take place at Haileybury’s windswept home of Berwick and The Scoop has even been told there could be a drone flying above the oval to aid in player development.
Hopefully no one will confuse it for a fighter plane.
Eagles must maximise draft: Cousins
West Coast great Ben Cousins says Eagles fans will need to exercise patience in the coming years, with the Brownlow medallist imploring his former club to play the “long game” in finding a way up the ladder.
Cousins, a four-time club champion and former captain, has been handed an expanded role with Channel Seven in Perth which will see him read morning sport bulletins.
It’s a major milestone for Cousins, who has continued his rehabilitation after a series of well documented off-field issues.
Ben Cousins is now reading the morning sport bulletin on Perth television.Credit: Getty Images
The 238-game champion told The Scoop he feels for his old club and believes there is one way out.
“It’s a difficult time that I don’t think has any quick fixes,” Cousins said.
“I believe the way out lies in the draft. To build on last year’s selections over the next two, three and four years.
“They are a club that has proven in the past they can develop players. Getting the important decisions regarding your draft strategy is vital.
“From a supporter point of view, in the short history of this football club we have been blessed with a really successful history, this time around it’s going to take some patience and understand it’s the long game.”
Cousins has been part of Seven News for over a year, where he’s broken down the week ahead on a Thursday night. Now his role has expanded.
“Presenting the sports news is certainly a different step. I’m out of my comfort zone but I’ve been rehearsing for a while now and it’s been great to get the first few bulletins away.”
Condensed bye is pie in the sky
When it comes to the mid-season bye, the AFL has tried a myriad of combinations to make it work for players, fans and broadcasters.
It’s been over two weeks, three weeks and this year spread across a month of football, with the final byes coming this weekend.
And there has been plenty of opposition to the four-week period, including one of football’s most revered journalists, Mike Sheahan, who told 3AW this week: “We should have a bye, the competition should have a bye, so people can go where they want.”
Mike makes sense. Surely a full week off for everyone would be a better result, and would end the speculation about the potential advantage that teams have playing others off the bye.
But in speaking to high-ranking AFL officials this week, The Scoop has learnt that those inside AFL house quite like the current set-up, saying that a week off would cost the game too much “momentum”.
Last Saturday, the afternoon’s standalone game consisted of Greater Western Sydney handing Fremantle a 70-point thrashing in front of less than 9000 people.
This Saturday, the fixture sees Sydney hosting West Coast, followed by the Dockers v Essendon.
One game in Melbourne over two Saturdays? Hardly screams “momentum”.
Round and round we go
Any potential coaching merry-go-round at season’s end will be decided by Damien Hardwick and Ken Hinkley.
After returning from Colorado recently, Hardwick has jetted off again, this time to Europe to relax and recharge for three weeks. When he returns in July, he will sit down with his manager Paul Connors and decide if, when and where he would see himself coaching again.
What does the future hold? Former Tigers coach Damien Hardwick.Credit: Getty Images
And while Hardwick will consistently be linked to Gold Coast – particularly if they have more results like Sunday’s humiliation at the hands of Carlton – industry eyes remain firmly on the intriguing situation developing at Port Adelaide, where of course Hardwick was a premiership player.
Well-placed Port Adelaide sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity have indicated to The Scoop this week that senior club figures believe Hinkley is the right man to continue as coach, however, Hinkley is still waiting for an offer of a contract extension.
The club has been firm publicly, saying any potential negotiations wouldn’t start until August.
Hawks discuss Sicily situation
While senior Hawthorn figures, including James Sicily himself, have privately expressed their disappointment since the failed AFL Appeals Board hearing on Monday, the club will now turn to work out the captain’s role over the time of his suspension.
A club official, who didn’t wish to be named in order to speak freely, told The Scoop that the Hawks would decide on Thursday what Sicily will do over the next three weeks, but he’s expected to be on the plane to the Gold Coast this week for the clash with the Suns on Sunday.
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