Gold Coast Stadium will be glowing with stars on the rise when Essendon take on the Brisbane Lions in Round one of the NAB Cup this Saturday night. The Bombers may have named a side short on experience, but it is sure to be one full of excitement when seven players make their senior debut in the red and black.
Essendon’s first pick of the 2007 NAB National AFL Draft, David Myers, will be one to watch in the encounter and is looking forward to his first match of senior football.
“I’m pretty excited and fairly nervous,” Myers said. “I’m trying not to think about it too much at the moment and just trying to wait until Saturday until it really sinks in because otherwise I will get myself too worked up.
“I spoke to Mum and Dad to tell them about it the other night and they are over the moon about it and can’t wait to watch it. My brother can’t believe that I will be playing on television so it is really encouraging that they are all pretty excited about it.”
Myers received the good news that he would be making the trip to the Gold Coast earlier in the week and admits that he is honoured to be donning the Essendon guernsey for the first time.
“I can’t wait to put on the game-day uniform,” Myers said. “I’m really looking forward to kitting up with everything and running out there to play for Essendon. It will be awesome I reckon.”
Likely to secure a role on the wing or on half-back, Myers is looking forward to the opportunity to play on some of his AFL heroes.
“It is pretty scary and I guess it will be pretty unusual running out there and playing on them,” Myers said. “But once I get out there and start playing the game, they will be just like any other opposition I have played on and I will be doing everything I can to beat them.
“If I get to play on the wing then I might get a chance to play on a Nigel Lappin or Tim Notting or one of those guys but I can guarantee that I will have my work cut out for me.
“I’m not sure how I will really deal with it until I get out there but I assume I will be in awe a little bit at first. I will be definitely trying to play well and giving it my best and I will see how I go I guess.”
Essendon’s squad is:
Backline: Pears Michael Slattery
Half-backs: Myers Ryder Lovett-Murray
Centres: Hocking Johnson Monfries
Half-forwards: McPhee Gumbleton Dempsey
Forwards: Jetta Johns Houli
Rucks: Hille Dyson Peverill
Bench: Laycock Nash Hooker Atkinson Magin Lonergan Reimers Dick
