Essendon captain Jobe Watson believesthe Bombers pre-season training program will help the team compete against themore physical sides next season.
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Watson said body strength was a keyarea the Bombers would be looking to improve this summer.
""We want to develop and tweak the game-plan slightly, but the program willbe one that will make us … able to stand up against teams that are tough, likeGeelong. Geelong defines where the game is heading,"" Watson said. ???One Team. One Dream - Stand As One. Click here to purchase your 2012 membership today.
Watson said it was not about spending more time at the club, but""maximising the time we're there"".
It was about developing a mental strength that would be able to withstand thepressures of finals football, something the players took away from theirdisappointing elimination final loss to Carlton last season.
""I think the personalities we have at the club are those that are able toabsorb that development and the coaching staff and the leadership group arereally confident that the people we have are going to be able to improve onthose areas,"" Watson said. ??
""That's the beauty of pre-season, and hopefully that translates into thegames next year and if we are lucky enough to get the opportunity to play inanother final, hopefully the work we've done over a period of time enables usto compete when things aren't going well for us.""??
Hird, who said the club is yet to finalise who it hoped to select at thismonth's NAB AFL Draft, identified four areas that will drive Essendon's rise upthe ladder next year: physical development, defence, ball movement and abilityto play out full games.
Two or three-quarter efforts were central to Essendon's mid-year five-gamelosing streak, and is an area Hird knows needs addressing.
""We want to improve everywhere,"" Hird said. ??
""We had a year last year which was a good year in terms of the developmentof the players, but in all parts of the club we're looking to develop.""
That process will be ramped up at the start of next year when the club addsanother development coach to its ranks, but it has settled on its match-daygroup of coaches, with Geelong's Matthew Egan the only inclusion.
On the track, Hird said Michael Hurley had his first run of the pre-season onTuesday after foot stress fractures hampered his end to the season. CourtenayDempsey and Jason Winderlich, both recovering from knee reconstructions, werealso set to be available for the start of next season.
Watson said it was not about spending more time at the club, but""maximising the time we're there"".
It was about developing a mental strength that would be able to withstand thepressures of finals football, something the players took away from theirdisappointing elimination final loss to Carlton last season.
""I think the personalities we have at the club are those that are able toabsorb that development and the coaching staff and the leadership group arereally confident that the people we have are going to be able to improve onthose areas,"" Watson said. ??
""That's the beauty of pre-season, and hopefully that translates into thegames next year and if we are lucky enough to get the opportunity to play inanother final, hopefully the work we've done over a period of time enables usto compete when things aren't going well for us.""??
Hird, who said the club is yet to finalise who it hoped to select at thismonth's NAB AFL Draft, identified four areas that will drive Essendon's rise upthe ladder next year: physical development, defence, ball movement and abilityto play out full games.
Two or three-quarter efforts were central to Essendon's mid-year five-gamelosing streak, and is an area Hird knows needs addressing.
""We want to improve everywhere,"" Hird said. ??
""We had a year last year which was a good year in terms of the developmentof the players, but in all parts of the club we're looking to develop.""
That process will be ramped up at the start of next year when the club addsanother development coach to its ranks, but it has settled on its match-daygroup of coaches, with Geelong's Matthew Egan the only inclusion.
On the track, Hird said Michael Hurley had his first run of the pre-season onTuesday after foot stress fractures hampered his end to the season. CourtenayDempsey and Jason Winderlich, both recovering from knee reconstructions, werealso set to be available for the start of next season.
To become a 2012 Essendon member, call 1300 GO BOMBERS (1300 46 26 62) or click here to sign up on essendonfc.com.au.
