Essendon ruckman, David Hille, today said he was excited about the direction of the club and its players and that influenced his decision to sign a new two-year contract.

“We’re a young developing group and that’s why I want to be here for the next two years,” he said.

“I am really enjoying working with these young blokes, they are good kids and they are trying to work on themselves on-field and off-field. I am enjoying being around them and that’s why I want to stay here and help them develop as a team and as men.”

The 26-year old – who turns 27 next month – has played 133 games with the Bombers after being taken with pick 40 in 1999.

He says morale within the group is holding up despite some poor performances.

“We’ve not performed well at the start of games in the last few weeks and that’s put us on the back foot,” Hille said.

“To put ourselves in that position is disappointing and so Matthew Knights is obviously upset and quite rightly.

“Matthew is very consistent in his approach to the players. Obviously he would like to be more positive but there are times when a spray like this (at quarter time and half-time on Saturday night) is required and I don’t think you could argue that that wasn’t one of those times.”
 
The 201cm, 108kg ruckman said he doesn’t think people should be blaming the poor recent performances on Knights as he has been an AFL coach for just nine weeks.

“Definitely it’s something that the senior group has been trying to work on and hopefully getting Scott Lucas back this week - if all goes well and if he’s selected - will help. Having our best players to choose from can only help,” he said.

Hille said the team’s performances recently have not been up to the standard the coach requires and had dropped off from how the side was playing at the start of the season.

He said the way the team played after halftime on Saturday night is the way they want to play from the first minute this week against Adelaide.

“If we lose this game it will send us a long way back this season. You would still like to think we could make the finals if we start getting some wins under our belts and get ourselves in a better position and that’s something we are keeping our focus on,” he said.

Hille also supported his captain, Matthew Lloyd, saying recent criticism has been a little harsh.

“His marking and strength was very good on the weekend. He kicked four goals including a very good one from the boundary and we probably havent been giving him the opportunities he is used too,” he said.