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YOUNG BOMBERS IN FINE FORM
Bomber draftess Shane Harvey and Joel Reynolds both impressed in their first serious match practice with Essendon at Whitten Oval on Saturday. Harvey played as a rover / forward pocket and kicked five goals while Reynolds played on a wing and across half back and got some nice touches in the intra-club match. ""They both did well,"" Essendon assistant coach Robert Shaw said. ""It was only an intra-club match so the intensity was down but they looked comfortable. Harvey kicked a couple of nice goals and Reynolds looked exciting - he needs to build his body up but he looks a player of the future."" ENGINE ROOM members can watch highlights of the match from tomorrow and throughout this week.
Bomber draftess Shane Harvey and Joel Reynolds both impressed in their first serious match practice with Essendon at Whitten Oval on Saturday. Harvey played as a rover / forward pocket and kicked five goals while Reynolds played on a wing and across half back and got some nice touches in the intra-club match. ""They both did well,"" Essendon assistant coach Robert Shaw said. ""It was only an intra-club match so the intensity was down but they looked comfortable. Harvey kicked a couple of nice goals and Reynolds looked exciting - he needs to build his body up but he looks a player of the future.""
Other players to impress on the weekend were Joe Misiti, Mark Mercuri and Justin Blumfield - three players who missed a significant part of last season through injury. ""Misiti and Mercuri both moved well and are showing the benefits of really solid pre-seasons,"" Shaw said. ""It was very pleasing to see Justin (Blumfield) play well. He kicked three goals in the first half and pulled up well after the match.""
Another good player on the day was Mark McVeigh. The 21-year-old was probably the best player on the ground before he was forced to leave the ground with a back spasm. The injury wasn't serious an he will play against Sydney this Sunday at North Sydney Oval.
Steven Alessio and Paul Salmon both continue to work through their modified pre-season programs. Neither played on the weekend and they won't play in Sydney this weekend. Draftees Simon O'Keefe (corked thigh) and Andrew Welsh (calf), who also missed the weekend's match with minor injuries, will head to Sydney this weekend. Chris Heffernan, who has recovered from osteitis, may also play against the Swans this Sunday.
ENGINE ROOM members can watch highlights of the match from tomorrow and throughout this week.
The countdown to season 2002 is on in earnest and in our continuing Engine Room series we look at the senior listed players and pin-point their roles in the upcoming season. Today we take a look at CORY MCGRATH. Last season was McGrath's first on the senior list and his 13-game return would have pleased him greatly. Injuries forced the selectors hand to an extent but once in the side McGrath looked very much at home and rarely let the team down. It is a foundation that will have him looking forward to the 2002 season.
