Essendon players were put through a punishing 90-minute session on the training track tonight to wind-up the week off. Competitive work was kept to a minimum but the players did plenty of running under the watchful eye of fitness coach John Quinn. Essendon football manager Matthew Drain said the training routine was similar to that followed last year. ""We obviously aren't playing but you don't want the intensity to drop off,"" Drain said. ""Tonight's session was basically a match simulation in terms of running. What they have done on the track would be commensurate with what they would do on match day.""

In other football news, the Bombers have chartered an eight-seater aeroplane to take coaching staff to Adelaide for tomorrow night's semi-final between Port Adelaide and Hawthorn. Original plans were thrown into chaos with Ansett flights grounded and Qanatas going on strike. Essendon plays the winner of the Port Adelaide / Hawthorn game in next weekend's Preliminary Final.

And Gary Moorcroft is the proud father of a baby girl by the name of Chloe Brianna Frances. Belinda Moorcroft gave birth to Chloe on Wednesday. They also have a son Beau.