After waiting six months to redeem the club’s 2005 performances, Lloyd is looking to put his stamp on the captaincy and lead the Bombers back into a winning position.
""When you look at the great captains like (Michael) Voss, (Nathan) Buckley and Hirdy, they have been part of great sides,"" he explained today.
""And I don’t want to waste my time and be captain of a side that is not part of finals footy.
""I was disappointed with my season and the team's last year so I have waited six months for this chance on Saturday night.""
And Lloyd agreed with Kevin Sheedy sentiments from a press conference yesterday that players will need to work hard to earn a place in the side this season.
""It’s going to change now, you’re going to have to perform or you don’t play,"" Lloyd said.
And with a list that can’t wait to play on Saturday night, the Bombers are hoping to get their season off on the right foot by giving the Sydney Swans a bath.
Getting in some practice today, the new skipper was soaking up the pre-season atmosphere in a tub full of footballs to launch the new partnership between Essendon and Abey Australia as its new shorts sponsor in 2006.
Abey Australia was originally born in the early 1950 post-war years of optimism. It has steadily grown from being a small family tool and die business into one of Australia’s leading designers, manufacturers and suppliers of quality plumbing and building components and high quality designer kitchen and bathroom products.
For over 50 years Abey have built a strong reputation with the plumbing and building trade throughout Australia manufacturing and distributing a diverse range of quality products. In more recent years Abey have extended their breadth of merchandise to include leading edge designer bathroom and kitchen products.
