""We are starting for the first time to get list pressure back at the club since about 2000 or 2001,"" Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy explained before training tonight.
""It’s going to be pretty awkward to get a game if everyone is fit and available. We don’t seem to have any bad, or touch wood major injuries at the moment.
""There hasn’t been much pressure round this club for a while on selection really. Games were probably a monty for some players in the last couple of years, but they wont be this year I can assure you.
""Henry Slattery would put pressure on Mark McVeigh to get a game in the back pocket. Courtney Johns might push Lucas down the back line,"" Sheedy said.
Despite having played the Swans twice during the pre-season period and winning both matches comfortably, Sheedy is not underestimating the opposition for Saturday night.
""I don’t pay any attention to practice match form at all. We never played the Sydney firsts, we played Sydney everything but we never played their firsts.""
But while he isn’t taking his opposition lightly, the coach is confident he now has the list to ensure the Essendon Football Club is again back in final’s contention after a disappointing 2005 season.
""In general we have brought some grand final players into the club, they are pretty experienced players.
""We wanted to get another ruckman to help David Hille, we wanted to get some pace in the midfield and bring some experience to the club.
""Twenty five per cent of our list has changed and four or five of them will be in the side in the first couple of weeks.""
Watch today’s full press conference on Bomber.tv.
