“Essendon has been fantastic in understanding how important it is to win games. You have to do all of the right things and sending the players up a day early has really helped with their preparation. I am starting to get to know the players really well and that all helps in coaching,” Banfield said.
A number of the Essendon players have been performing well and may be rewarded with a senior opportunity this weekend. Aaron Henneman has three games under his belt since returning from the groin injury that sidelined him for the first half of the season. He has been a focal point up forward for the team and also spent time in the ruck. “In terms of experience he is not that old but in terms of his size and senior games played he is experienced. He gives us another tall option along with Sam Hunt and Jason Laycock he has given us a strong target to kick to,” Banfield said.
Rookie Ben Haynes has also been in good touch since returning from a dislocated shoulder. Haynes was close to best on ground against Werribee with his 27 touches and three goals. The coaching panel still has the option to elevate a rookie after Jordan Bannister was put on the long-term injury list and after his performance on the weekend, Haynes would be a prime candidate.
Banfield said it is a fantastic opportunity for one of the rookies to be promoted to the senior list, however it is disappointing to lose a player like Bannister for the season. “From a VFL point of view, losing Jordan is a big blow. He has been playing strong footy and he was doing some really good jobs on quality VFL players. He can play tall and small and he has been really good. It is really bad luck for Jordan and it has taken another quality player off our team sheet.”
Bendigo has a bye this weekend and then returns to Windy Hill on Sunday, July 27th to take on Sandringham. Pending what happens at the tribunal this evening Steve Alessio is a chance to come back into the side, as is Shane Harvey who had 23 disposals against Werribee and kicked one goal. Other Bendigo players performing well include the skipper Nick Carter and Nathan Lovett-Murray. Lovett-Murray amassed 23 possessions last weekend across half-back and at 20 years of age is a chance to be rookie next season. Jim Cail is another player who has been in consistent form this season and Banfield said it would be fantastic if one or a few of the Bendigo players were picked up as rookies in the future.
“From a Bendigo point of view hopefully I will have a few players that can be rookied. They have been playing well enough that maybe there might be an opportunity there for a few of them. That is the added bonus of this alignment – they are playing a really good level.”
Bendigo Bombers v Werribee results:
Bendigo – 5.3 8.5 13.7 18.10.118
Werribee – 5.1 13.3 15.5 16.8.104
Goals - Johns 4, Haynes 3, Walsh, Winderlich, Brown 2, Murray, Harvey, Hall, O'Keefe, Alessio
Bendigo Bombers statistics:
Haynes - 27
Murray - 23
Hunt - 23
Harvey - 23
Hall - 22
Cail - 20
Carter - 19
Rosa - 18
Winderlich - 16
Henneman - 15
Alessio - 15
Brown - 14
Davies - 13
Johns - 11
O'Keefe - 9
T. McGrath - 8
Walsh - 7
Cartledge - 7
Bowen - 6
Laycock - 6
Hawkins - 5
Jones - 1
