Q. You must be very pleased with David Hille’s progress. I know there have been critics, but we all know the best ruckmen have to mature – over a long time. David has had a unique opportunity – to learn from such masters – (Paul Salmon, John Barnes and Matthew Allan, not to mention other coaches). (Graeme Waters)
A. To be in the Essendon environment with legends such as Simon Madden, John Barnes and Paul Salmon to learn from has been fantastic for David’s development. It is pretty elite company and over his journey David has taken bits and pieces from three legends of the game. Any aspiring and up and coming ruckmen would like to have access to these three champions. David is trying to model himself on aspects of the three of them. He likes to go forward and kick a goal, similar to Simon Madden and ‘Fish’.
With a quality and experienced ruckman like Matthew Allan coming back into the side last weekend, it allowed David to push forward. We needed another target forward, so we sent David forward and he kicked three goals in the last quarter, which turned out to be the match-winning move.
Q. Several times I have noticed that David Hille has what appear to be notes written on the back of his hand. I am pretty sure I saw him writing while he was on the bench at one time during the weekend’s game. What exactly is this and why? (Andrew McHarg)
A. Individual players have different strategies to motivate them. David obviously puts messages on the back of his hand to remind him of different things as the game goes on. Every player has different theories on what helps their performance, so it is each to their own.
Q. How did you feel when the Bombers were kept goal-less in the third term against Melbourne on the weekend? (Ricki Lehman)
A. Our focus was definitely getting off to a good start and also the second quarter, because that hasn’t been our strength this season. We were very focussed coming into half-time to be ahead on the scoreboard. We always knew that Melbourne was going to come out strong at half-time and they did. Their match-ups worked slightly better than ours and they got on a run and kicked some important goals. As a team we need to become better at closing down sides when they do get on a run. That is something that we have focussed on this week.
Q. I imagined the purpose of playing backmen (eg. Johnson and Solomon) in the forwardline and forwards (eg Lovett-Murray and Cupido) in the backline was to increase their ‘flexibility’. Does this strategy continue in the finals so that they can experience the ultimate pressure in the position that doesn’t suit them best? (Ken Sikaris)
A. In finals' football you wouldn’t be experimenting with too many positional changes. I know in the 1984 grand final, Sheeds put Billy Duckworth forward and a few other players went forward that generally played back. You might have the opportunity to do that if you are playing in a grand final, but with starting positions in a final you just go with your best players in their best position and your best match-ups.
