Welfare Coach Dean Bailey discusses the progress of young Bomber stars McVeigh, Jacobs, McGrath and Henneman as they participate in their first finals series and try to cement a spot in the competitive Bombers Line up. All four are hungry for success and want to win the ultimate in football - an AFL Premiership.
Q. Dean a couple of young blokes in their finals campaign for the first time, Danny Jacobs one of them. What have you made of Danny in the first game and do you think he's got what it takes to handle the next week and hopefully two?
A. I think Danny, well actually both players have both really stood up this year for us. Last year probably both had disappointing years in the sense that they missed out but again last year was a very unusual year. This year they have both earned their right to play and I think Danny as a player has really matured a lot this year. We have used him in some key positional roles up forward and also down back he has also given us another 6ft 2, 6ft 2.5 player who can play on a 6ft 4 player and he has proved that on 3 or 4 occasions this year.
Mark McVeigh finished third in the Rising Star. He has had a pretty good year Mark. We have used him in the mid field, I think there was a game or two where he actually went back and played half back and he has been a goal kicker for us and he's tagged, so I mean they are adding options for them that coaches like to have. Both players I think will stand up very well in finals. I think they have so far too, they have contributed and I know they are both looking forward to this week's game.
Q. Danny would have taken some confidence out of his fourth place in the Rising Star. I suppose sometimes he can occasionally question himself a little bit. But to know that judges think he can play must have been a bonus for him?
A. Yeah I think he got 11 votes and coming fourth and McVeigh coming third I think is a good sign for the club. Two players in the top four I think that is a bonus and you are right with Jacobs - the year he has had considering where he has come from last year and to get an opportunity to play in the team the way it is going, I think it is a big bonus. I think there are people out there now who are now starting to think that Danny Jacobs is not only versatile but he is a very smart, very clever player who uses the ball well.
Q. Two other players that may get a look in, Aaron Henneman and Cory McGrath. They have both shown themselves capable of playing AFL football.
A. Aaron has had some good match-ups this year for him. He is a 6ft 4 player who has got very good speed, very strong player and has done some very good jobs for us in the back half again and I think having Fletcher, Wellman, Solomon and Hardwick around him gives him a good opportunity to grow and experience and the good thing about Aaron is Sheeds has put him on very good players, I think Schwartz at some stage earlier in the year and he has had some big roles to play Aaron and we look forward to him being available this week and he might get an opportunity.
The other player of course is Cory McGrath who has worked his way into the club. He has had a huge pre-season and he really set himself for this year and Cory might have played 13 games now, coming off the bench and still getting 18-20 touches and he has really given us something off the bench, very similar to what Darren Bewick did last year and I know that Cory is as hungry as anyone and I am sure if given a chance he will prove his worth.