Speaking after the first skills session of pre-season training today at La Trobe University, Matthew Knights singled out injury-prone key-position prospect, Scott Gumbleton, as the player that has caught his eye early.
Knights said that the 199cm West Australian performed well during testing yesterday and on Wednesday.
""There was no-one that I was disappointed with (at testing) but I was really pleased to see Scott Gumbleton complete both the yo-yo test and the beep test,” Knights said.
“He ran a fairly decent time in the beep test which pleased me greatly so it’s just good to see him with a smile on his face enjoying training.
“His testing was better than decent and people say ‘you can’t keep talking about him’ because he hasn’t played many games but why not? We took him as pick two in Australia (in the 2006 national draft) and we have high hopes for him.
“He hasn’t had any luck with injury but we do hope things go his way this year so I can put him out there on the MCG or the Dome in those big games and he can show what he does.
“You have to remember he was taken between players like Bryce Gibbs and Matthew Leuenberger in the draft and injuries have put a dampener on his career so far but he is only 20-year-old so he has a long time to get out there.”
Gumbelton has suffered recurring hamstring injuries and a broken collar-bone since coming to Essendon.
Knights said that the Bombers would potentially boast an impressive forward line in 2009 if Jay Neagle and Scott Gumbleton progress and complement veterans Scott Lucas and Matthew Lloyd.
“Part of our succession planning is making sure we have some big key talls coming through the ranks, whether they be backs or forwards, and Jay (Neagle) and Scott (Gumbleton) that is our future up forward,” he said.
“We have other boys down back obviously Tayte Pears, Paddy Ryder and Darcy Daniher and we’ve got to keep pushing those boys through and I will keep pushing them through and giving young guys game time. I am in my second year and will keep pushing those young guys through to get experience and game time.”
Knights said that other players that impressed him during the two-days of testing (on Wednesday and Thursday) were David Hille, Heath Hocking and Sam Lonergan with all looking in very good shape.
The coach was also excited by the improvement of Alwyn Davey following a serious knee injury.
“Alwyn is fine. His recovery from his cruciate injury has been fantastic, we have actually had to slow him down a little bit,” Knights said.
“He has such a compact frame that we believe he will be back to his best, I believe, really early in the season so we are looking at a Round 1 return for Alwyn, no question about that.”
When ask about how the team can avoid a repeat of the number of injuries sustained in 2008, Knights said it was a matter of doing everything right.
“We can only make sure that in every department and everywhere we are doing things to the maximum of professionalism,” he said.
“Whether its training or recovery or diet we have to do everything right and come game day you just have to let the boys rip.”
