News

Hayden Skipworth to debut for Essendon

Tuesday, 24 March 2009
Craig Rowston for essendonfc.com.au
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One of the most remarkable stories in AFL football will be completed when Hayden Skipworth plays his first AFL game for Essendon this Sunday.

Coach Matthew Knights today confirmed the 26-year-old will be selected after a number of solid performances during the pre-season.

"He will definitely play his first game for the Essendon Football Club and it's a magnificent story of resilience and persistence over the past two or three years," Knights said.

"With a few senior players missing out of the midfield (for Round 1) it gives him an opportunity."

The 177cm midfielder was recruited to Windy Hill with pickNo.3 in the 2008 pre-season draft after winning the Bendigo Bombers best-and-fairest award.

He previously played 44 games with the Adelaide Crows, mostly on a forward flank, before being a surprise delisting.

To watch the Knights media conference on Bomber.tv click here

Knights confirmed that Mark McVeigh, Kyle Reimers and Scott Gumbleton would not be available for selection for Round 1.

"Scott is very disappointed - he has put in a lot of hardwork," Knights said.

"He's six foot six, has great endurance, marks well and did everything right during pre-season but the cards haven't fallen his way. He could be three weeks (until he plays) or could be six weeks.

"Our medical staff are doing everything they can but you have to be patient in this game sometimes. He might just be a young man that takes time to grow into his body and, when he does, he might play a string of games."

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Skipworth might not be the debutant this weekend with the coach saying that one, or even two more players might make their first appearance in the red and black.

"Michael Hurley and David Zaharakis are both in the mix for Sunday - they are our first two picks in last year's draft but are both very different types to each other," he said.

"We will have another selection meeting this afternoon and make our final decision there."

PLAYER PROFILE: Hayden Skipworth

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gumbleton might play in three weeks...might play in six weeks, might string a few games together!! im starting to think that even the coaching staff are loosing confidence and faith in this kid. it's such a shame cause he really does possess genuine talent but he just doesnt seem to have the body to play afl. really starting to wish we hadnt have drawed that game against carlton in 2006..then we would have finished dead last and been forced to pick gibbs as he was clearly the number 1 draft pick.

- Christopher Domjanic (posted 24/03/2009 1:58:31 PM)

GO SKIPPY!!!

- Adrian Reynolds (posted 24/03/2009 2:59:36 PM)

Go Skippy, Turn it on and kick some more goals.

- Cory Williams (posted 24/03/2009 4:55:09 PM)

GOOD LUCK SKIPPY,GO BOMMBERS,LET'S HAVE A GOOD WIN FIRST UP.

- Georgia Sabatino (posted 24/03/2009 5:31:19 PM)

I was hoping we picked up Joel Selwood in that draft but alot of clubs rejected him after he had an injury ridden year. Wonder who is laughing now. I hope he can get back into the game and show everyone why we selected him.

- Matthew Barnes (posted 24/03/2009 6:01:52 PM)

Go dons,can someone please pick up motlop and not make him a superstar like last year,that was embarassing,i think the dons will play well,tredrea is a dud...and the big lloyd will kick six.

- Robert Mazzone (posted 24/03/2009 8:14:34 PM)

Sorry i have lost patience... our recrutinng is still not acceptable, other teams seem to pick up drafts well after us and get it right why dont we.. Adrian sorry maybe time to move on....

- James Serafy (posted 24/03/2009 8:18:31 PM)

well done skippy you are going to be a star at this club and also a future leader

- Raymond Learmonth (posted 24/03/2009 8:37:59 PM)

Isn't it great we are going to play a 26 year old!!!! May as well have kept Peverill as that is all Skipworth is doing keeping another kid out. As for Gumbleton being out for 3 to 6 weeks as Christopher said earlier we could have had Bryce Gibbs who'd have 30 games under his belt instead of about 5. I may be proven wrong but I think Gibbs would have given us more value.

- Wayne Geggie (posted 24/03/2009 9:15:13 PM)

It's all great to compare players, but how can our recruiter's crystal ball the future? No doubt, check the Blog on Adelaide's web page in the next few weeks to read about how they let Skippy go......Bring it on Don's

- Warwick Spalding (posted 24/03/2009 10:03:24 PM)

give gumbleton a go..yes his been injured since his been drafted but the way most of use are talkin would be giving the bloke no confidence at all. im sure he'll get in a few weeks in be a stand out for the year.

- Anthony Zeniou (posted 24/03/2009 10:09:12 PM)

While we are talking about recruting ( or lack of it )One of the worst ones in recent times is Myers over Palmer?? Myers will only ever be a bit player while Palmer will be one of the top midfielders in the comp?? But the most important recruiting we can do is get a good COACH and get rid of KNIGHTS ASAP!!

- Ray Brough (posted 25/03/2009 1:29:12 AM)

Cannot agree Ray, I believe David Myers will become an elite AFL player. Also, why the rush to judgement with the coach? Isn't he entitled to a fair go, after all he's only had the one season so far..? I'm really disappointed that Gumbleton will miss for some time with yet another injury - in fact, there's a depressingly familiar sound to our growing injury list. Please, footy gods, give us a break?

- Dennis Green (posted 25/03/2009 5:04:27 PM)

I agree Dennis David will be a future star to early to compare. As for knights i believe Hardwick was the right choice. Ray the worst one was the 2000 draft have a look and you will see James davies before Daniel Keer if and but's to late to dwell support the players we have and if you look at our draft history we missed out on alot.

- Jeddy Telescourt (posted 25/03/2009 10:50:42 PM)

Dennis, Myers is too one diamentional and very SOFT, god knows we have got enough receivers now, more hard in and under players are required, and Jeddy you are spot on with your choice of coach!! Dennis how many coach's can be up by 64pts at HALF TIME in an elimination final(Bendigo)and get FLOGGED by 37pts?? Not a bad effort ah??? and why did PORT sack him??? This clown couldnt coach pigs to be dirty!!!

- Ray Brough (posted 26/03/2009 12:10:52 AM)

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