Essendon Bombers News

Essendon ruckman David Hille says the Bombers leadership group deliberated long and hard to decide Michael Hurley's club punishment for assaulting a taxi driver.

"It's a process that took a long period of time to come to and it's been well documented, but we wanted to get it right," Hille said.

"(We wanted) to take into consideration all of the circumstances surrounding the incident. I think that's why we've been cautious with dealing with the issue."

Essendon draftee Anthony Long fulfilled a childhood dream when he lined up for the Bombers in his uncle's famous No. 13 jumper in a NAB Challenge match against Sydney in Blacktown.

"It was definitely a dream. I have gone for the Bombers since I can remember," Long said.

"It was fun just running out and to hear some of the supporters calling out. It was good to get the feel for the game and get a run in the senior team."

Michael Hurley won't be available for selection until round four after Essendon announced further penalty for his attack on a taxi driver.

Hurley will also be required to complete an alcohol counseling course while being involved in at least 20 hours' community service during the 2010 season.

"As the matter is only part-heard Michael cannot make any comment today," Essendon football operations manager Paul Hamilton said.

"The club will release a statement later in the day, but it can be confirmed that Michael will not be available for selection until round four of the AFL season."

Essendon's Leroy Jetta will be out of action for up to six weeks with a thumb injury which he dislocated during a practice match between the reserve grade Essendon and Richmond sides.

"Obviously there is a period following the operation where you can't do much because you can't allow for the extra bleeding and things, but once it has settled down he can join in and run around and build it up from there," Essendon's general manager of football operations Paul Hamilton said.

"It is most disappointing from the perspective that he is a player that knows this is an important year for him and he wanted to get off to a good start and unfortunately it hasn't happened for him."

Essendon is confident Michael Hurley will resist the temptation of a bigger contract with the Gold Coast and remain at Essendon for his career.

"I have no doubt Michael Hurley will be a career Essendon player," Bombers chief executive Ian Robson said.

"I have had a range of conversations with Michael and his family and Michael knows where he stands with us.

Essendon key forward Scott Gumbleton may play in the Bombers' NAB Challenge match on February 27 after progress with his injured back.

"We will ease him back into things and hopefully get him back on track again sooner rather than later," general manager of football operations Paul Hamilton told the club's official website.

"It's probably a bit early to call, but it is looking more unlikely than likely for Gumbleton to line up in the challenge match - but it's still early days and he is tracking well so you never know."

Michael Hurley, who is facing assault charges, has been suspended by Essendon and will face further sanctions in the future.

"Michael made a serious mistake and he is extremely remorseful for his actions," Essendon CEO Ian Robson said.

"He accepts that the club has imposed this sanction, and will take further action, and he will continue to fully co-operate with police and the courts."

A back spasm sustained during a training incident has cost injury-prone Scott Gumbleton his place in Essendon's NAB Cup match against West Coast .

"He slightly twisted and locked up his back", said Essendon coach Matthew Knights.

"However, Jason Winderlich copped a heavy knock last season, had a back spasm, then three or four days later freed up pretty well. We're hoping it's along similar lines to that."

Brent Prismall hopes to benefit from a successful pre-season leading into 2010.

"Pre-season this year compared to last year is completely different," Prismall said.

"I came into the club and just did swimming by myself. But this year it's been great and you can't undervalue what a full pre-season does for you.

"Just to be out training with the boys every day is great. So hopefully I reap the rewards from that this year."

Essendon footballer Nathan Lovett-Murray avoids conviction on an unlicensed driving charge.

Lovett-Murray was instead ordered to make a $300 donation to a charity of his choice and to write a letter to the police officer who charged him to express his gratitude for their leniency.

Bomber Jason Laycock will miss at least half of the NAB Cup as he recovers from a calf injury.

"He's quite frustrated, as is everyone on his behalf," coach Matthew Knights said.

"We'd love him out here playing but he's coming back from a calf injury and he'll up his training this week but we won't take him to Subiaco next week."

David Hille made a strong case for inclusion in Essendon's round one side with a good showing in an intraclub hit-out at Shepparton.

"He's cleared all the hurdles up to this point with his rehabilitation, so if he keeps going down this track, we'd be pretty confident he could line up," Essendon coach Matthew Knights said.

"He's a leader of this football club and he's got a big, strong body, which is really important against the really good sides in the competition.

Essendon big man David Hille will have his first competitive hitout in an intraclub match at Shepparton today since succumbing to a knee injury in 2009.

"For David Hille in particular this is another little stepping stone in his recovery," Bombers football manager Paul Hamilton said.

"He's been involved in competitive training but this is our first match as such."

Matthew Lloyd will join Ray Allsopp, Neil Balme and Laurie Dwyer as AFL Life Members at next month's annual general meeting.

"The AFL has been privileged to watch a great career in Matthew Lloyd, that finished at the end of the 2009 season," AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou said.

"Matthew was a person who pulled people to our game with his skill and he will be missed by Essendon supporters and his achievements are recognised by all football fans.

Veteran Andrew Welsh explains that he never had any intetion of walking out on the Bombers last year and says that he is excited about where the club is heading.

"I'm a local boy, I love the club, and we've been through a lot of hard years and I think we're on the way up," Welsh said.

"The signs are promising - we've got a lot of hard work to do, but I want to be a part of that as much as any other boy here."

Young Bomber David Zaharakis hopes to continue to improve in his second year of AFL football in 2010.

"First year you don't really have any expectations, but second year all those expectations can creep up on you if you have a reasonable first season. I don't feel a lot of pressure at the moment, but I just want to have a consistent second year," Zaharakis said.

"That's been a big goal of mine and I'm really putting my head down to get in the senior side and stay there consistently."

Essendon's Henry Slattery says that being a senior player means 2010 will be a big year for him.

"I'd say this is one of the most important years for me," Slattery said.

"You want to improve every year, and we've got such a young list and I'm one of the senior players now.

"When you have older blokes like Scotty Lucas, Lloydy and Adam McPhee go, it's another reason for you to step up."

Michael Hurley has had the plaster removed after an off-season operation to his wrist that was injured during training.

"He had an incident on Monday whereby he jarred his wrist, but he went in and the docs cleared him, and he came out and trained today, so that would be just a little bit of a flow-on from that," Essendon coach Matthew Knights said.

"There's a little bit of soreness still, but it was only a jarring incident, and he'll adjust."

Essendon says Scott Gumbleton will be ready for the NAB Cup, but the club will still be cautious about his return to football.

"He is travelling well," Essendon football operations manager Paul Hamilton said.

"He is doing everything in training and he tested well, so we are happy with his progress."

Essendon recruit Jake Carlisle played representative cricket in the under-16 Dowling Shield and the under-18 Commonwealth Bank Cup before switching to footy.

"I never really took footy that seriously and, in under-16s, I took a year off footy to play cricket because I really wanted to make the Dowling squad," Carlisle said.

"Then my mates encouraged me to play footy at Craigieburn and the Calder Cannons picked me up.

"If I didn't get drafted then cricket was set and I had belief that I could go well. But now I can't wait to play for Essendon."

Essendon coach Matthew Knights would have been happy for any of his six leaders to become captain, but has thrown his support behind Jobe Watson.

"We think the way we have done it is great for us and where we are at as a club. We need our players more empowered and to be more like coaches," Knights said.

"You don't get put into these leadership roles unless you have done the hard yards."

Jobe Watson says the crossroads of the 2007 season helped him choose the path that would take him to Essendon's captaincy.

"It's one of those times where you really have to assess where you're at and where you want to go in footy," Watson said.

"If you're going to get the best out of yourself, you have to continually be challenged and that was one of those times.

"You either take one path or you take the other."

The 24-year-old will follow in the footsteps of his father, Tim, by leading Essendon's premiership campaign in 2010.

"He is a quality person and is a player that has had to work hard to achieve what he has in the game," Essendon general manager of football operations Paul Hamilton said of Watson.

"He leads by example on and off the field. He has an appetite and desire for success and wants to bring people along with him on the journey. Jobe has an outstanding leadership group behind him and I am confident that, as a group, they will unite the club and provide strong direction."

Alwyn Davey says improving his fitness will help with his consistency in 2010.

"I dropped off in the second half of the year in some games, so it would be good to get that right," Davey said.

"I'm hungry to improve more and more every year and that means being more consistent with my game."

Tayte Pears is working hard in the weights room this pre-season in an effort to counter some of the competition's stronger forwards that he struggled against in 2009.

"Being only my second year, my opponents had six, seven, even more years in the gym on me and at times I really felt skinny and scrawny.

"I found ways to work around that, but this year I definitely needed to get a bit bigger and hopefully that should help."

Essendon will rename one end of Etihad Stadium after champion goal-kicker Matthew Lloyd for its home games from next season.

"We are very excited about being able to have one end of the ground named the Matthew Lloyd End and we think this is a very fitting tribute," Essendon chief executive Ian Robson said.

Essendon footballer Nathan Lovett-Murray has escaped a court conviction after a drug charge against him was dismissed today.

Essendon ruckman David Hille may not be ready to play by the time the club faces Geelong next year.

"He's progressed from doing a lot of straight-line running to a lot more football activities," assistant coach Ashley Prescott said.

"With the program he's got, he just needs to reach certain milestones. If he achieves that, he could be a chance but we'll certainly make sure he's achieved all those."

Brent Stanton has put his hand up to captain Essendon following club champion Matthew Lloyd's retirement.

"It would be fantastic. I think it's every kid's dream and it's something I personally aspire to," Stanton said.

"It would be a great privilege to do that."

Essendon youngster Michael Hurley will front Melbourne's Magistrates Court next month after an alcohol-related incident in September where he was charged with assaulting a taxi driver.

Former Bomber Scott Lucas signs with the Greenvalue Football Club for 2010.

"We're obviously very happy with the fact that he's signed at Greenvale," Greenvale president Bruce Kent said.

"No doubt he's had offers to play at other clubs, and we're thrilled he sees his immediate footballing future at Greenvale."

Former Essendon utility Adam McPhee is a step closer to rejoining Fremantle after nominating for the NAB AFL Pre-season Draft.

New Essendon recruit Travis Colyer says he is determined to succeed despite his small stature of 175cm.

"What's helped push me is the success of guys under 180cm in the system. To see them doing well has shown me it doesn't matter how big you are. If you're good enough to play, you're good enough to play," Colyer said.

Bomber Andrew Welsh says the thought of him being traded from Essendon made him sick.

"It gave me a sick feeling that there was talk out there of other clubs," Welsh said.

"I grew up locally, I'm an Essendon person and I love the club. It's where I want to be and play here my whole career.

"It gave me a sick feeling to think that my name was even mentioned. That was a pretty good sign to myself that I don't want to be anywhere else except for here."

Mark McVeigh questions the reasons behind Adam McPhee's exit from Windy Hill.

"It was disappointing. It was a real surprise," he said.

"We would have liked to have known earlier, and maybe we could have got something for him.

"But that's his decision - I know I've read in the papers that he's great mates with (Fremantle coach and former Essendon player) Mark Harvey, and I find that a bit hard to believe."

Fremantle football operations manager Chris Bond says the club will do all it can to secure the services of Adam McPhee.

"It would be a great coup for this club if we were able to secure him during the pre-season draft," Bond said.

"We have been speaking to Adam and his management quite closely. We think he'd be able to complement our list very well."

Utility Adam McPhee has rejected Essendon's contract offer and will nominate for the NAB AFL Pre-Season Draft.

"Naturally we are disappointed and some of our fans will be as well, but we could not reach an agreement with Adam. We offered him a very good two-year deal that we believe was more than fair," Essendon general manager of football operations Paul Hamilton said.

"We only want players here that want to play for this club and Adam has decided he doesn't want to be part of this emerging playing group."

New St Kilda player Andrew Lovett was arrested for drunkeness on the weekend and must now wait while his club's decides his sanction.

"The St Kilda Football club is extremely disappointed that Andrew has put himself in this position," the Saints said in a statement.

"The club is fully investigating what has taken place and will take appropriate action if and when required."

Essendon forward Jay Neagle has had his pre-season disrupted by groin surgery that will sideline him until January.

"He had some groin soreness after the season and we flew him to Sydney. The surgeon felt the best thing for him was rest and rehab. But it didn't appear to be working so he has had an operation," football manager Paul Hamilton said.

Adam McPhee is part of Essendon's second list lodgement to the AFL as his contract negotiations continue.

Essendon utility Adam McPhee has failed to train with the Bombers as his future remains in doubt and Bombers coach Matthew Knights says he must make a decision on his future soon.

"We are going to get a decision today, one way or the other," he said.

"We have put a lot of work into trying to keep Adam at Essendon Football Club and that is obviously our preferred option, but we will just see what evolves in the next few hours."

Guy O'Keefe, Dan O'Keefe and Bryce Carroll will join Geelong's pre-season training in the lead-up to the NAB AFL Draft.

Andrew Welsh and Nathan Lovett-Murray have signed new two-year contracts with Essendon, but utility Adam McPhee remains in limbo.

"Andrew and Nathan are two of the real leaders at the club and as two senior players with strong bodies they will be important to our future success," Essendon general manager of football operations Paul Hamilton said.

Chief executive Ian Robson is confident that looming discussions with Adam McPhee, Andrew Welsh and their respective managers will be positive.

"They are both required players and I am confident we will be able to resolve it in a positive manner for both parties, with the circumstances where we currently see ourselves, and that they'll stay Essendon players," Robson told radio station SEN.

Essendon leaders Andrew Welsh and Adam McPhee are considering nominating for the draft after being disappointed with two-year deals presented to them after pushing for new three-year contracts.

New Port Adelaide recruit Jay Nash says he feels he has a lot to offer the Power after struggling for senior games at the Bombers.

"Essendon had a stack load of injuries in 2008, so I played a lot of footy and played pretty consistently," Nash said.

"I played a couple of games early this year, but found my way out of the team and couldn't get back in. There are some areas of my game that I need to work on that I didn't improve enough in.

"It was tough, but I'm just looking forward to coming over here."

Essendon's Hayden Skipworth has announced his retirement, ending a career that began with the Adelaide Crows.

"Unfortunately my body is struggling to cope with the AFL workload and I wasn't able to play the sort of footy I wanted to play, especially in the second half of the year," Skipworth told the club's website.

Port Adelaide onballer Shaun Burgoyne will join Hawthorn next season as part of a four-club trade.

The deal will also sees Hawk forward Mark Williams sign a three-year deal with Essendon while Bomber Jay Nash moves to Port Adelaide.

Port Adelaide also receive two first-round draft picks: No.9 (from Hawthorn) and 16 (from Essendon, on-traded by Hawthorn).

Geelong, the fourth club involved in the trade, will swap draft pick 33 in exchange for three additional picks. The Cats took draft selections 40 and 56 from Port Adelaide, and 42 from Essendon.

Essendon midfielder Andrew Lovett has been traded to St Kilda for pick No. 16.

"He's a Melbourne boy and St Kilda's got opportunities in terms of on-field where they're at," Lovett's manager Alex McDonald said.

"You'd think they're pretty close to some success as well. They were the two key things."

Essendon is in no hurry to deal with young defender Michael Hurley's alleged grand final eve indiscretion against a taxi driver.

''In a police context the investigation is ongoing,'' newly appointed Essendon chief executive Ian Robson said yesterday on SEN radio.

''Michael and the club will provide absolute and full co-operation with the police and do all we can.

''We've expressed our disappointment with the fact that Michael was out late and we've thrown our support behind him ... we have to respect the fact that there is a legal and police process to be completed.''

Departed Essendon CEO Peter Jackson said Matthew Knights had done enough to warrant an extension to the end of 2012 as head coach of the club.

"The question for Matthew was, 'has he done enough in the first two years to justify him seeing through that five-year journey?'. I think he has," Jackson said.

Jobe Watson confirmed his status as one of the best midfielders in the game by winning his first best and fairest award at Essendon.

Essendon coach Matthew Knights has signed a two-year contract extension to coincide with chief executive Ian Robson's first week on the job.

"I am very excited about the direction this football club is heading," Knights said.

"We have unearthed a number of talented young players this season but there is still a lot of hard work to be done - we are under no illusion about that.

"I want to thank the club for the opportunity to keep working with the playing group to try and achieve premiership success."

Essendon's young gun Michael Hurley has spent several hours in police custody after allegedly kicking and punching a taxi driver following an all-night drinking session.

"We are extremely disappointed that Michael was out so late and that he put himself in a situation where an incident occurred,'' Essendon managing director Peter Jackson said.

"He started drinking at the grand final Footy Show after-party and by night's end he had clearly had too much to drink.

"We are treating the matter very seriously and will take appropriate action once the details are clear. The club will continue speaking with Michael and he will assist police any way he can.''

Essendon's Bachar Houli has had a frustrating two years with injury but thinks he will be ready to go come pre-season training.

"It's been six weeks now, and I went to the doctor to get some more x-rays on the fibula, and it's improving - slowly, though," Houli said.

"They think I'm about four weeks away from running, so hopefully I can be back by pre-season.

"We're back around November 9, so hopefully I'll get a few weeks in me and build a basic running base before we start training, and from there, be ready to go."

Matthew Lloyd says the five-man leadership group will be able to cover the his departure as captain of Essendon.

"We've got a leadership group this year that I've loved working with, and they've all got strong qualities," Lloyd said.

"I think it will come from the playing group voting for who they best feel should captain the club, along with the board and the coaches."

Essendon captain Matthew Lloyd has announced his retirement from football.

"Mentally I've gone to the well and haven't been thriving in the game as I have in the past," Lloyd said.

"I'd rather go a year too early than a year too late.

"99 per cent of people said to play on but I felt it was the right time from a mental and physical point of view."

Andrew Lovett will not be wearing an Essendon jumper in 2010 with the Bomber midfielder looking to be traded to another club for a second time after a failed attempt to move in 2009.

"It is disappointing, obviously, because I love Essendon and the people there. I have got great friends there and will always love Essendon so it is sad from that point of view, but by the same token it is exciting for me to think of where I will now be next year," Lovett told The Age.

"I sat down with Knighter and he was really open and honest and so was I. At the end I thanked them for the opportunity, especially the opportunity to play in the midfield, and the chance to play at a great club."

Essendon captain Matthew Lloyd has told the club he needs more time to consider the latest one-year contract offer.

"Matthew said he needs more time to decide if he will sign a new contract and play in 2010, and we are respecting his wishes," Essendon general manager of football operations Paul Hamilton said.

"Naturally the football club, our supporters, sponsors and the wider football public are very interested in his decision but we will not be pressuring Matthew."

Bomber captain Matthew Lloyd has told the club that he needs more time to decide to play on or retire.

"I wanted to find out where he's at and if there was anything we can to do to help him in terms of what he wants to do," Bombers football manager Paul Hamilton said.

"He's still undecided at this stage and that's basically where it's at.

"From his point of view, we've told him we want him to play next year.

"But of late, he's had a busy time. He's had the Hawthorn issue, had a baby, and if he needs time to make a decision we should be able to afford him that time, for he is an Essendon champion, and we're more than happy to do that."

Essendon coach Matthew Knights says he hasn't discussed Andrew Lovett's future yet following media reports that the midfielder was seeking a trade from the Bombers.

"We're catching up with all our players in the next two days before they head off on their eight-week leave and I'm sure I'll speak to Andrew in the next 24-48 hours and see if there is any truth in that scenario," Knights said on SEN radio.

"There was some interest from the Sydney Swans but there wasn't a lot of interest in a two-way win-win scenario."

Essendon coach Matthew Knights will meet with Matthew Lloyd later this week to discuss the captain's future at the club amidst unconfirmed reports that the Bomber captain is being strongly considered by Collingwood in 2010.

"Despite significant public interest and media comment surrounding the captain's decision, the club and Lloyd agreed mid-year to meet post-season as part of the player review and list management process and nothing has changed," general manager of football operations Paul Hamilton said.

Mark Robinson from the Herald Sun reports that could offer Essendon captain Matthew Lloyd a player contract for 2010 should he not be required at Essendon.

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire would neither confirm nor deny this rumour.

"Don't bring this up days out from a big final, but this is a decision for our football department. Any decision on trading will be made at the end of the season," McGuire said.

A security guard assigned to the boundary line reveals what Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said to Bomber captain Matthew Lloyd after the Hawks' loss to Essendon.

Clarkson is heard to have said, "You had better f**king retire you f**king weak c***."

Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson has been given a suspended $5000 fine by the AFL after verbally abusing Matthew Lloyd following Hawthorn's loss to Essendon.

"The AFL is concerned about the potential for such situations to escalate on the ground and also the need for AFL coaches to set a positive example for coaches at all levels," AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said.

Clarkson said he was sorry for his actions.

"I apologise for my actions after Saturday's match and any embarrassment caused to the AFL," Clarkson said.

"I believe senior coaches should model appropriate behaviour and I fully intend to set a positive example for coaches and others involved across all levels of football."

Jobe Watson will captain the Bombers in their elimination final against Adelaide after Matthew Lloyd was suspended for four matches.

His father, Essendon great Tim Watson, says he is proud of his son.

"Yes, I am, but no more proud of him because he's captaining the side than I am any other time," he said.

"It's always a big honour to captain your club. It's a great achievement for him, I think."

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou says Bomber captain Matthew Lloyd is not a sniper following an outburst by Hawk Campbell Brown after a spiteful match between Essendon and Hawthorn.

"No I don't, I think Matthew Lloyd's one of the great players we've had to have played our game, one of the greatest full-forwards who have ever played the game," Demetriou said.

"I think Matthew Lloyd has been a wonderful player, a wonderful servant to the game, one of the greatest full-forwards that we've ever seen.

"I think he regrets what happened and you could even tell by his post match interview - I don't think he thought that was a good thing to see at all.".

Essendon will not challenge suspensions for Matthew Lloyd, Patrick Ryder and Samuel Lonergan.

"We put the facts - including advice from our QC - in front of Matthew and on balance he did not wish to appeal and we respect that decision," general manager of football operations Paul Hamilton said.

Essendon champion James Hird says that Bombers captain Matthew Lloyd should play again in 2010.

"Matthew Lloyd should play on at Essendon next year and the Bombers should be doing everything they can to convince him to do so," Hird wrote in his column for the Herald Sun.

"Those that say his best football is past him are right, but those that say he should retire are way off the mark."

Hird also defends Lloyd against accusations of being a sniper made by Hawk Campbell Brown.

"Every game I played in, except the past couple of years, our goal was to physically intimidate the Hawks, but on the other hand Essendon has every right to complain about the way Hawthorn has beaten up the Bombers in the past three years," Hird wrote.

"Calling people snipers and protesting through the media is off the mark and if Campbell Brown had an issue he should have dealt with it in the remaining 50 minutes of the game or the next time the two clubs played."

Essendon captain Matthew Lloyd is offered a four week suspension for his hit on Hawthorn's Brad Sewell.

Bombers Samuel Lonergan and Paddy Ryder have also been offered one-week each for striking after a melee ensued in the match following Lloyd's bump.

Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson describes himself as a 'passionate peanut' after abusing Bomber players, Jobe Watson in particular, following Hawthorn's loss to Essendon which resulted in injuries to Brad Sewell and Max Bailey.

"That's just the passion of the game. I've come out onto the ground ... I think he was shaping up to come and shake my hand but with the blood boiling it was the last thing I wanted to do," he said.

"If I was going to be accommodative of any Essendon player it would have been Jobe but I didn't even want to speak to him, so it wasn't the way we wanted to finish our season, that's for sure."

Essendon's Andrew Welsh returns fire at Campbell Brown after the Hawk labeled Bomber captain Matthew Lloyd as being a "sniper" following his collision with Brad Sewell that left Sewell with a fractured cheekbone and eye socket.

"Hawthorn is a strong, aggressive side, they're no angels. So you've got to be careful that your own back yard is clean before you come out and question other people's attack on the ball," Welsh said.

Essendon defends Matthew Lloyd after their captain is accused by Hawthorn's Campbell Brown as being a "sniper" following Lloyd's head-high bump on Hawk Brad Sewell.

"We are very disappointed in the comments from the Hawthorn camp," Essendon football operations manager Paul Hamilton said.

"One, we are not happy with the attack on the character and integrity of our captain, two the veiled threats made again Matthew, three the comments that are prejudicial to a potential tribunal hearing this week and four, the appalling set of double standards on display by Campbell Brown.

"Matthew Lloyd has had such a long and wonderful career and a strong reputation as a ball player."

Hawthorn enforcer Campbell Brown calls Essendon skipper Matthew Lloyd "one of the biggest snipers in the game" says that Lloyd's "his time is coming".

Brown's comments come in the wake of a head-high hit by Lloyd on Brad Sewell that left the Hawk with severe facial injuries.

'We're not going to forget in a hurry what Matty Lloyd did, and we hope he plays on next year ... he's done that a fair few times to us,'' Brown said.

''I think he is one of the biggest snipers in the game, and his time is coming.''

Essendon ruckman Paddy Ryder says he is desperate to play finals football this year after being urged on by captain Matthew Lloyd.

The Bombers will secure eigth spot if they beat Hawthorn in round 22.

"We haven't played finals for a while, and Lloydy's been harping on it at training, and we just want to play finals to reward those guys, and reward ourselves with a win and play in a few finals," he said

Scans reveal Essendon's Alwyn Davey will miss two to four weeks after MRI scans on Monday revealed damage to his AC joint.

"The results confirmed that Alwyn has a grade three injury to his shoulder which is fairly severe," Essendon football operations manager Paul Hamilton said.

"There is very little he can do other than rest over the first couple of days. He is very sore and can't lift his arm up at this stage so we will give him a period of rest.

"Once it is rested up and the swelling has gone down, we will start working on some basic movement patterns and build it up from there."

Essendon offers Matthew Lloyd a one-year deal with teammate Mark McVeigh believing his captain should accept the deal.

"At the moment Lloydy's feeling great, apart from his injury, body-wise and mentally," McVeigh said.

"He just wants to be assured that he's required and he wants to fulfil the goals that he's going to set."

"I'm sure Lloydy will play on next year and we're all hoping that he does."

Essendon captain Matthew Lloyd says if he plays on next year it will definitely be his final season.

"I am enjoying my football, however, I have a number of things to weigh up - and people to talk to - before deciding whether it's best to play on in 2010," he said.

"I haven't come to a decision and I understand my career could have only a matter of weeks or another year to run. "

Essendon veteran Scott Lucas announces his immediate retirement, calling an end to his decorated 270 game career.

"Even earlier in the year, I had a firm belief in my mind that this would be my last year," he said

"Things always change; things turn around, but nothing has changed in the way I know this decision is right."

Essendon's Michael Hurley was superb against the Saints with 20 possessions and 10 marks and has been rewarded with a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination.

Essendon coach Matthew Knights declares that Jobe Watson has "come of age" after a magnificent performance against ladder-leaders St Kilda where the midfielder notched 37 possessions including 15 contested.

"Jobe's really had a big year and a half, couple of years of football. He's come of age as a footballer we believe," Knights said.

"He's got an inner confidence. He believes he's very good and he's going to be very good, but then he's got great humility to be able to work with a Jay Neagle or Angus Monfries in the forward line."

Young Essendon ruckman Paddy Ryder will be out of action for three weeks after scans on his knee revealed ligament damage.

"There was some concern that Paddy had sustained ligament damage so we are happy to learn his injury isn't anything more serious," Bombers' football manager Paul Hamilton said.

"Unfortunately he will miss at least a couple of weeks as the muscle behind his knee heals which is obviously a blow for the side."

Brent Prismall says he wasn't too worried with he hit the post with a set shot with 35 seconds left against St Kilda that would have sealed victory for his side.

Nick Riewoldt later marked for a set shot after the siren that would miss, giving the Bombers a thrilling victory against the Saints who had been unbeaten until then.

"I missed the goal, I wasn't worried then I remember Riewoldt marking about one metre away from me and I thought: 'oh no'," Prismall said.

"Lucky enough he missed and the rest is history."

Essendon coach Matthew Knights says Nathan Lovett-Murray bounced back well after a rough week after he was charged with driving while unlicensed and possessing a drug of dependence.

"We're really proud of his resilience. He's had a tough week and unless you're in his shoes, you don't really properly understand what he's been through," he said.

"He sparked us in the third quarter with some of his run and he kicked a nice goal also late in the game, so full credit to Nathan to be able to knuckle down after a tough week off the field."

Essendon assistant coach Gary O'Donnell says defender Nathan Lovett-Murray is set to play against the Lions and is in good spirits despite being charged with possession of drugs.

"He's been in good form on the footy field so we're looking forward to him contributing to a win for us on Saturday night," O'Donnell said.

"He's going well, and we've selected him. He's in a good frame of mind.

"We're fully behind Nathan; he's a good character and he's going to vigorously defend those charges."

Essendon veteran Scott Lucas' career may be on the line after injuring his knee which is expected to sideline him for at least two weeks.

Bomber Nathan Lovett-Murray speaks about being charged with drugs possession.

"The last couple of days have been really tough. I'll be contesting the charge at court and I'd just like to let people know I don't take drugs," he said on the Essendon website.

"I've been tested numerous times this year by the AFL, I was tested two weeks ago. I'm happy to take urine or hair, blood samples, to prove that I don't take drugs."

Former Essendon and Brisbane forward Damian Cupido has been stood down by his SANFL club due to a gambling addiction.

"It's extremely disappointing for both the club and Damian," West Adelaide chief executive Kym Russell said.

"He is a young man who has got a problem and we want to help him out. We thought long and hard about it and decided together that removing him from the club was the best outcome for now."

Essendon coach Matthew Knights says he has tough decisions to make over the future of veterans Matthew Lloyd, Scott Lucas and Dustin Fletcher.

"I am going to sit down with all of the three veterans at the end of the year. They are all pretty professional mature guys. We will leave it to them," Knights said.

"Those guys will have a big say, and virtually all the say, as to what they want to do. They have earned that right because they are champions of the Essendon footy club."

Essendon player Nathan Lovett-Murray is charged with possession of drugs after a raid on his home resulted in a tablet of ecstasy being found on the premises.

Lovett-Murray was linked to a police investigation involving his brother, Dane Lovett-Murray, and a cousin, Robert Knight, on drug-related offences.

Lovett-Murray will submit to drug tests in an effort to clear his name.

"He is happy to submit to any drug test - blood, urine or anything," Lovett-Murray's manager Peter Jess told The Age.

"He doesn't drink, smoke and is very much against drugs."

James Hird declares he has no interest in coaching despite receiving offers from Port Adelaide to become an assistant coach.

"As much as I love footy and its strategies, I am not prepared for the 24-hour-a-day lifestyle that is AFL coaching," Hird wrote in an article for the Herald Sun.

"I am not scared or worried that I might not be up to it, it is just that at the moment it is not my burning ambition."

Matthew Lloyd could miss up to a month of action with a bruised heel.

Interim coach Jade Rawlings says Jack Riewoldt played his best game against Essendon after the young forward kicked a career-high six goals to earn victory for his side.

"Yes, I think it is and probably the fact it was in a big game as well," Rawlings said when asked if it was Riewoldt's best game.

"I think he's scratched the surface. He kicked five against the Eagles last year, but we were 10 goals up, so he got a few late.

"He can be a genuine key position forward for this footy club."

Essendon captain Matthew Lloyd is likely to miss at least one game with a bruised heel.

"We can certainly see some rawness, and it's bled quite heavily initially," Essendon coach Matthew Knights said of Lloyd's injury.

"I would have thought he'd be in great doubt for next week, and I wouldn't like to predict any further than that."

Essendon great James Hird has doused talk of a rift with Dons skipper Matthew Lloyd.

"I saw a lot of things creep in over time in the early 2000s, where we probably just dropped the baton a bit," Lloyd was quoted as saying in the Herald Sun.

"You want guys to walk in and know immediately how to behave, carry yourself and prepare for footy."

Hird did not believe there were any pressing issues during his last years at the club.

"This is a club that finished in the finals seven of the eight years when I was captain, did not have one incident in the paper in that whole time, and enjoyed their wins and celebrations, so I'm not sure what he is referring to," Hird said.

Essendon's Matthew Knights doesn't expect to be approached by former club Richmond as it searches for a new coach.

"I played my whole career there, and obviously they're going through a really diligent process. They're going to go through the whole scenario, which I think is fantastic," Knights said.

"I still keep in contact with a lot of guys down there, and past players, so there is a connection there.

"I can't worry about that too much. I'm just focused on coaching here at Essendon."

Essendon coach Matthew Knights says forward Angus Monfries is expected to return for the team's critical clash with Richmond after overcoming a hamstring injury.

"All the medical information coming through is that he'll be fine. I think our medical staff are very diligent, so if they're saying to me pretty early in the week they consider him a very strong chance I would have thought he's nearly over the line," Knights said.

"It will be great to have him back in the team because he's been a really solid player."

Essendon captain Matthew Lloyd remains hell-bent on demanding extreme professionalism at Windy Hill.

Lloyd led the charge late last month in suspending Mark McVeigh, a member of his bridal party, and has warned the entire list that every sacrifice possible must be made in the run to the finals.

"We've got an in-house pact we've made with each other that we've all agreed upon," Lloyd said.

"I wouldn't like to go into it outside the playing group, but it's happened in the last week or two. You look at St Kilda and they are on an absolute mission at the moment.

"To compete with these sides, we've got to be doing everything possible."

Essendon assistant coach Gary O'Donnell has ruled himself out of taking on a senior coaching role next year despite vacancies at North Melbourne and Richmond.

"No and I am not in the running for any of those jobs," he said while adding that potential coaches did not necessarily have to serve as assistants before assuming a senior role.

"Each individual is different. We saw Michael Voss virtually didn't have an assistant coaching role anywhere. Some guys can go straight in to it. It's horses for courses," he said.

"You get the right person for the right club at the right time it doesn't matter what they've done in their past."

Matthew Lloyd last night said that Kevin Sheedy lost his magic touch in his final years at Essendon, claimed that he struggled to cope with the demands of the modern game, and said that his former mentor would not fit as a senior coach of any Melbourne side.

"Maybe for the older players he did, but I wouldn't say for the younger players, they basically didn't know any different," Lloyd said when asked if Sheedy had lost his touch as coach in his final years at Essendon.

"There were a few technical type of things, maybe numbers behind the ball and flooding and all those type of things that we probably struggled to deal with."

Jobe Watson looks a certain starter for Essendon's clash with Sydney after successfully completing the Bombers' final training session.

"The final decision might not be made until tomorrow morning because it really depends on how he pulls up from training today," Essendon football manager Paul Hamilton said.

"We're hopeful, the signs are good, and we'll wait and see."

Essendon coach Matthew Knights hopes forward Scott Gumbleton will play again this season, but a run in the seniors is unlikely.

Knights said Essendon hoped Gumbleton's recovery, after surgery to repair a bulging disc in his spine in April, would mirror that of midfielder Jason Winderlich, who was operated on for a similar injury last year and has been a shining light this season.

"We've just got to hope Scott follows that path. Many times we've started with Scott but it hasn't worked out for us, or for him," Knights said.

"So we can only hope he comes through. We can't guarantee anything, unfortunately, because he has had a history of not being able to get on the ground over the last two or three years."

Essendon midfielder Andrew Lovett has faced court for driving without a licence.

Lovett was handed a $900 fine and an additional three-month licence suspension. He now cannot drive until mid-November this year.

"The court has dealt with it this morning and we're just going to move forward now," Essendon coach Matthew Knights said.

"Andrew understands he's made a mistake and wants to move forward as well."

Mark McVeigh will return from his club-imposed suspension for the Bombers' clash with Sydney.

"He was a little bit sore late last week, he obviously trained pretty hard and wanted to get going again and he pushes himself pretty hard on the track, so he got a little bit sore and he didn't play in the VFL," Essendon coach Matthew Knights said.

"We just felt if we put him out there under soreness we might run the risk of him doing something so he will definitely come back into the senior line-up and is keen to do well."

Bombers Angus Monfries will miss the next two weeks following scans on his leg which revealed a hamstring strain, but Jobe Watson is expected to return after recovering from an ankle injury.

Matthew Knights says Mark McVeigh should forget about the captaincy and worry about playing good football.

"We've never come out and publicly said that we're looking to change the captaincy in the near future," Knights said.

"Mark just needs to worry about getting back and playing good football in 2009.

"That's Mark's major focus ... the captaincy's a little bit irrelevant at this point in time, because we've got a wonderful captain."

Jason Winderlich has more reason than most to relish Essendon's exciting ride this year.

Two back operations last year restricted him to just nine games, but he has missed just one this season and has emerged as one of the prime movers for the Bombers.

"It's been great because I didn't expect to play much footy at all this year, so I really go out there with just a pretty clear mind week-in, week-out," Winderlich said.

"For the first half of the year Scotty Lucas was a bit out of form and we had a few injuries, so I was the fourth or fifth-oldest player and I'm only 24.

"It was pretty exciting (to be) looking around the rooms before a game and see so many young guys there, and obviously our game style suits the way I play so it was very exciting running out, it still is each week."

Star Essendon midfielders Jobe Watson and key position player Adam McPhee could both play on Friday night against Collingwood.

"(Watson)'s recovered pretty well, pretty quickly, so we'll give him a test this morning and we'll weigh it up after that," assistant coach Scott Camporeale said.

"(McPhee)'s got a pretty good record against (Travis) Cloke when we've played previously - he trained fully on Tuesday and he'll have another fitness test today as well, just to make sure he's cherry ripe, ready to go."

Fremantle have suspended Dean Solomon for one game for taking part in a late-night drinking session with Essendon's Mark McVeigh.

"In this instance, Dean hasn't demonstrated the level of professionalism that we expect and require of a senior member of our playing group," Fremantle coach Mark Harvey said.

"Dean accepts that his actions detracted from his preparation for this weekend's game."

Young Bomber forward Scott Gumbleton has not given up the thought of playing again this season.

"I obviously want to come back and play but ultimately I don't want to risk anything," Gumbleton said.

"I'm just taking my recovery process week by week at the moment and will leave it to the medical staff and fitness staff to determine when I am ready.

"If I can play this year then it is a bonus but if not, I will focus on being 100 per cent fit for next year. I don't want to risk anything. I don't want to go out there a little bit sore and run the risk of being injured again."

Adam McPhee says Essendon has avoided unsavoury off-field incidents because of its strong club culture.

"I would have thought most clubs wouldn't accept any of that sort of stuff anyway but it does help if you've got a strong leadership group there or a strong group of players or administration or a strong football department that's on top of that sort of thing," McPhee said.

"From that point of view the fact that Essendon isn't involved just pretty much reinforces that there is a good culture at our club and we don't tolerate that sort of stuff."

Mark McVeigh's one-week suspension came after a night out with former Essendon teammate Dean Solomon.

"He made a choice, he chose a path and he missed a training session which is important to Friday night's build-up. It is just for one match, but it's vital we do this," Essendon coach Matthew Knights said.

"It doesn't matter if you are a first or second-year player or a champion of the club, if you're not going to get the club trademark right - that professionalism right, to prepare yourself to play - then we are not going to pull any punches.

"I always tell all my players we've got 46 on the list and they can all play, and I'm not fussed who I put out there because I know they'll do the club proud."

Essendon coach Matthew Knights says the club has had no contact with his management regarding a new deal.

"My role is to coach players and a team, and that's what I'm concentrating on," Knights said.

"The things behind the scene with my contact, my manager will deal with.

"I don't really get involved. I don't really take anything as fact until it actually happens. That's the way I work as a person."

Mark McVeigh has been suspended by Essendon from Friday night's clash with Collingwood for missing a training session.

"Mark was unfortunately out socialising on Sunday and missed the training session on Monday," Essendon coach Matthew Knights said.

"That being the case, his preparation has been hindered for Friday night's game.

"He'll be playing the VFL and can regain some form and fitness there.

Bombers defender Tayte Pears has been rewarded for his shutdown job on Brendan Fevola with a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination.

"I was very nervous. I grew up watching 'Fev' play footy for years. I used to love watching him, and to get the chance to play on him was pretty big. I was definitely nervous going in to the game," Pears said.

Essendon chief executive Peter Jackson last night dismissed a newspaper report he had been empowered to extend Matthew Knights' tenure.

"I haven't been empowered or authorised by the board to do anything on this," Jackson said.

"No offer has been made."

Essendon will move to reward coach Matthew Knights with a pay rise in 2010 and a new contract, which will tie the 38-year-old to Windy Hill until the end of 2012.

Essendon is breathing a sigh of relief after scans on Jobe Watson's ankle have revealed that the star midfielder is likely to miss just two games.

Watson, who is career-best form, injured his ankle early in the second quarter of Essendon's stunning 69-point win against Carlton on Friday night and, after returning to the action briefly, he eventually hobbled off and was unable to take any further part in the game.

"He's got ligament damage and muscle damage around that ankle area. So he's got a couple of little things rather than one big thing, so he's likely to miss two weeks," Essendon's football operations manager Paul Hamilton said.

Second-year Essendon defender Tayte Pears will be given the daunting task of nullifying Carlton full-forward Brendan Fevola at the MCG tonight.

Young Essendon defender Tayte Pears will get first crack at Blues' full forward Brendan Fevola on Friday night.

Essendon assistant coach Alan Richardson said the Bombers would resist the temptation to start with the more experienced Dustin Fletcher on the dangerous forward.

"Fletcher will certainly get his opportunity to play on Fev. Tayte Pears will be the one early. He will get first crack and he has been in terrific form so he will get first go," Richardson said.

"The way Fletcher plays, it will be more a team defence than perhaps a one-on-one defence. We hope we can get that structure right."

Essendon has confirmed Henry Slattery is in the box seat to replace Mark McVeigh in the side to face Carlton at the MCG tomorrow night.

McVeigh was suspended for one-match for striking Melbourne's Jared Rivers.

Young defender Tayte Pears may have the difficult job of standing Blues spearhead Brendan Fevola on Friday night.

"We'll back our young defence. We have all year, and there's no reason for me to go away from that," Essendon coach Matthew Knights said.

"Fevola is a handful and we haven't managed to stop him as a team for two or three years now. He's got sevens, eights and nines, which are really big bags in the modern age.

"We're going to have to try and cut that down a little bit."

Midfielder Mark McVeigh is 'hugely disappointed' to miss the Carlton blockbuster after being suspended for striking Melbourne's Jared Rivers, says Essendon coach Matthew Knights.

"Mark is a very passionate young man; he's very tribal, and I know he loves big clashes against Collingwood and Carlton and teams like that," Knights said.

"He's a hugely disappointed young man at the moment and particularly because he hasn't played a lot this season with injury.

"He's missed a lot of football and he feels pretty low at the moment."

Remorseful Essendon midfielder Mark McVeigh is resigned to missing Friday night's showcase clash against Carlton at the MCG after accepting a one-game suspension for striking.

"Mark understands he made a mistake and feels that he has let himself and his teammates down," Essendon's football operations manager Paul Hamilton said.

Geelong's Cameron Ling can escape with a reprimand for striking Fremantle's Nick Suban, while Bomber Mark McVeigh is facing a week on the sidelines with a level three striking offence.

Being run down by Alwyn Davey in last Friday night's 43-point loss was all part of Jack Watts' steep learning curve.

Describing Davey as "a little lightning bolt", Watts said of the incident: "I looked behind me and I thought I had 10 metres and before I knew it I was on the deck."

"I'm still learning, having only played two games, so I still have plenty of learning to do," Watts told BigPond Sports Weekend.

"I've got to learn from that and pick up the pace. Hopefully, in the next few weeks I won't make that same mistake again."

Melbourne coach Dean Bailey hopes his team has unveiled a forward who can do some "special things" after a promising debut from Liam Jurrah.

Jurrah was a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing performance from the Demons, who lost by 48 points to Essendon at Etihad Stadium.

"It was good for LJ to show a little bit," Bailey said.

"I think it's good for him, confidence for him. It was a big occasion for LJ. He had a couple of nice chases, but his aerial stuff will only get better.

"I think he showed tonight that he has got a reasonable football brain. Hopefully we have uncovered a quick forward who can do some special things."

Essendon coach Matthew Knights will be sweating on the match review panel's verdict after Mark McVeigh was reported for striking Melbourne's Jared Rivers.

"I must admit I'd just come down from the box just before the break and I saw the scuffle break out," Knights said after the game.

"I was just preferring that our boys kept themselves out of trouble. That wasn't the case.

"I haven't seen the incident live yet, so I'll have a look at that when I go home tonight. I've just got to see how it looks."

Bomber Andrew Lovett's irresistible form will earn him a new contract, with talks under way between the club and his management.

"We have had a preliminary discussion. They are working through their list management and when the time is right they will approach us again about Andrew," Lovett's manager Alex McDonald said.

"Andrew is in the next bunch of players they are working though."

Adam Ramanauskas says being part of a team environment really helped in his battles with cancer.

"When you're playing football you just want to be one of the boys and you don't want to be treated any differently," Ramanauskas said.

"That was the great thing I had when I was still playing at the footy club. I wasn't treated any differently - I was one of the boys and part of the team."

Andrew Welsh says he was always hopeful of a quick return after breaking his leg in a pre-season practice match.

The midfielder will make his return for the Bombers tomorrow night against Melbourne at Etihad Stadium, just four months after his leg was smashed and ankle dislocated in a practice match in February.

"After a few days, I penciled in Melbourne, mid-season break that's when I wanted to come back," Welsh said.

"A lot of people said it was unrealistic, but you have got to set goals, so I set it and it has come through."

Melbourne could unveil its fifth debutant of the 2009 season in the form of exciting forward Liam Jurrah.

"Liam's form in the last couple of weeks has been pretty good, so he's obviously under some consideration for this week," Melbourne coach Dean Bailey said.

Essendon ruckman Jason Laycock will not play again in 2009 due to ongoing issues with a foot injury.

"He will be reviewed again in a month to see if a crack in this foot is healing and, if it's not getting better, it is possible there will be further surgery," football opertions manager Paul Hamilton said.

"Obviously it's disapointing for Jason, and it's very disapointing for the club considering our limited ruck resources at the moment."

Essendon is set to welcome three key players back for Friday night's match with Melbourne.

Key defender Dustin Fletcher and onballers Andrew Welsh are almost certain to line-up, while speedster Jason Winderlich will be named depending on how he recovers from training today.

Experienced defender Dustin Fletcher is likely to be rushed straight back to senior footy after recovering from a leg injury to help arrest Essendon's slide following two losses in a row for the Bombers.

Essendon has been bolstered by signing boom ruckman Paddy Ryder for a further three years after Ryder decided against returning home to Perth.

"I have a lot of friends here and Essendon is the best place for me to be," he said.

"My family is sad but they understand this is best place for me."

Essendon ruckman Paddy Ryder wins his challenge at the AFL tribunal but Port's Toby Thurstans is found guilty of making contact with an umpire.

Steven King is looking at a month on the sidelines after being charged with rough conduct, while Paddy Ryder has also been suspended.

King was involved in an off the ball incident on Saturday which left Kangaroo Sam Power unconscious.

Ryder was suspended for a week for rough conduct against young Crow Patrick Dangerfield.

Despite the loss, Hayden Skipworth says he relished the chance to match up against his old club Adelaide.

"It was exciting. I was pretty nervous going into the game. I've waited a couple of years to play against them," he said.

"It was good fun to catch up with the guys after the game for a quick chat, and to toss the coin with Tyson Edwards in his 300th game as well."

Andrew Lovett's biggest challenges remain off-field, says Essendon coach Matthew Knights.

"Andrew has been a very consistent player for our club this year," Knights said.

"I didn't have a lot to say to Andrew other than to say he had to take responsibility for his own actions, and he's done that.

"His best footy is in front of him, but his challenge is to always stay consistent off the field, so we'll continue to work with Andrew on that."

Essendon forward Scott Lucas is likely to spend time in the ruck to help him regain form and off-load pressure from Paddy Ryder in today's clash against Adelaide at Etihad Stadium.

"He had limited ball time at first ... we put him in the ruck and used him as a solution down back," Bombers VFL coach Adrian Hickmott said.

"What we wanted for him was to get some ball in his hands and when he got it, he was good. I thought his second efforts were pretty good too."

Former Cat Brent Prismall is finally ready to make his debut for Essendon after having a full knee reconstruction.

"It's obviously my first game for the club, so I'm really looking forward to getting out there," Prismall said.

"It's been really smooth sailing all the way through, I've had no real hiccups, so credit to the fitness staff and physios at the footy club - I wouldn't be back this quickly or in this good condition without their help."

Essendon will support Andrew Lovett through his latest off-field indiscretion.

Lovett will face court later this month to answer charges of driving while unlicensed.

He lost his licence last year after a build-up of demerit points and it is understood Lovett was caught driving earlier this year.

"Andrew's actions are unacceptable and he will now face the consequences of the law," Bombers chief executive Peter Jackson said in a club statement.

"He needs to understand the community has standards and he like all of us has a responsibility to meet them."

Essendon's ruck crisis has deepened, with Matthew Knights confirming that Jason Laycock could be ruled out for the season.

Essendon has been left with just one geniune ruckman due to the injuries to Tom Bellchambers and Jason Laycock.

Laycock has battled navicular problems since late last year but made his comeback with VFL affiliate the Bendigo Bombers the weekend before last.

"He's training and was playing with discomfort," Essendon coach Matthew Knights said.

"It's not ideal. He hasn't been able to get a run at it, which is frustrating because he would have been perfect to come in."

Youngster Patrick Ryder will be expected to carry Essendon's rucks in their absence.

"We're going to have to be a bit creative and share the workload. It's probably far to say Paddy is going to have to do the majority of the work, but we're going to have to find him support," Knights said.

"We'll have a chat about that this afternoon and try to come up with a plan that will give Paddy enough support and do our best to nullify Adelaide's strengths as well."

While Essendon ruckman Tom Bellchambers will have an MRI scan later today to determine the full extent of damage to an injured knee, teammate Adam McPhee believes the return of some mature-bodied Bombers should help the club's cause in coming weeks.

"He probably might miss a couple of weeks, but I don't think it's as bad as what we expected," McPhee said.

Returning Essendon star Mark McVeigh says he has felt hard pressure for the first time in his career to earn his spot in the Bombers' line-up.

"I think from a personal point of view it's the first time you really feel pressure to earn your spot, which is a great thing to build at your footy club,'' he said.

"I think Matthew Knights shiowed a biot of faith in me, he sat down and asked me what I would like to do and I felt like I needed to earn my spot.''

Geelong coach Mark Thompson had a feeling Essendon speedster Andrew Lovett would have a spectacular season having attempted to secure Lovett in a trade prior to the start of season 2009.

"We were interested in Andrew and he was quite prepared to come," Thompson said.

"The trade was almost done but Essendon pulled out at the last minute. In the end, we lost Prismall for almost nothing and they kept Lovett.

"Now Lovett's paying fantastic footy and Prismall's back in so they're the big winners out of that deal."

Andrew Welsh will line up for the Bendigo Bombers against Sandringham in Round 8 of the VFL just three months after his leg was smashed in a tackle during an intraclub match at Whitten Oval.

Essendon defender Nathan Lovett-Murray will not challenge his suspension from the Match Review Panel.

"It's disappointing because Nathan has been in really good touch," Essendon coach Matthew Knights said on Tuesday.

"Both offensively and defensively he has been providing us with a fair bit of impetus. He is going to be big loss for us."

Nathan Lovett-Murray and Mathew Stokes are facing time on the sidelines after the match review panel's assessment of the weekend's action.

In-form Mathew Stokes must sit out Sunday's game against Essendon unless he successfully challenges a striking charge at the AFL Tribunal tonight.

A poor record also came back to haunt Essendon defender Nathan Lovett-Murray when he was outed for three matches for a late hit on Richmond's Kayne Pettifer.

First year Essendon defender Michael Hurley fractured his scaphoid bone in the VFL on the weekend.

Andrew Welsh is poised to make his comeback from a gruesome leg injury on Sunday week with the Bendigo Bombers in the VFL.

"Everything's going really well. I hope to be back in two weeks' time," Welsh said.

"This week, I had a bit of a scare. I tore scar tissue off the inside of the ankle. I got the ultrasound yesterday and it all looks fine. There's no new damage, which I'm relieved about."

Essendon midfielder Brent Prismall managed to play 45 minutes in the VFL in his return from an ACL injury.

"He looked to be reading the ball well and he got about a dozen touches," Bombers assistant Gary O'Donnell said.

"It was all you could ask of him at this stage and I know he will be pleased to be back out there. It has been a hard slog for him - it is great that he can now get back out there and do what he does best."

It has taken a few years, but Bommber midfielder Jobe Watson is flourishing at last.

"Inside our doors, Jobe Watson is held in the highest regard," coach Matthew Knights said of Jobe.

"The best part about Jobe is, he's improving every year. If he keeps on that track he's going to end up a sensational player in this competition.

"There's still plenty of scope for improvement in Jobe Watson, even though he's moving into one of the elite players in the competition now."

Discarded Essendon forward Scott Lucas has decided to play for the Bendigo Bombers on the weekend.

"Scotty has put his hand up to play and I think it is fantastic by him to get back, get some good form and come back and be a real key for us," assistant coach Scott Camporeale said.

Scott Lucas may not play at all this weekend, and is several weeks away from a return to senior football with Essendon determined to reinvigorate its veteran forward.

"We just feel in supporting Scott it's the best way to go to release the pressure valve so he can go away, find some form, and come back in some form, and see the real Scott Lucas again," Essendon coach Matthew Knights said.

"We think it's probably the best way to support him through the patch he's going through. We need to break the cycle he's in at the moment"

Geelong coach Mark Thompson says he expects Gary Ablett to return bigger and better from his groin injury.

"This will be a great refresher for Gary Ablett and he'll probably come back bigger and better than ever," Thompson said.

"To have one or two weeks off during the year is not necessarily a bad thing."

Essendon has lost patience with out-of-form veteran Scott Lucas, dropping him for Friday's clash against Hawthorn at Etihad Stadium.

"Scott's fairly pragmatic. He understands the way of the world," Essendon coach Matthew Knights said.

"He's disappointed as anybody in his position would be.

"We want him to go back and get a bit of relief. We want him to go away and regain some form. Whether he plays in the reserves will be up to him."

Former Essendon skipper James Hird says out of form Scott Lucas needs to be given more time and would not benefit from a break or a stint in reserves.

Former Geelong midfielder Brent Prismall will return via Essendon's VFL side next weekend.

Essendon is considering sending forward Scott Lucas down back to replace Dustin Fletcher.

Dustin Fletcher will only miss 3-4 weeks after scans revealed his foot injury wasn't as severe as first thought.

Dustin Fletcher has a break in his left leg and may miss two months of football.

Essendon could not give veteran defender Dustin Fletcher a reason to celebrate his 300th match last night after being thumped by the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba by 43 points.

Essendon ruckman David Hille is planning to play in next season's opening round after a knee reconstruction after advice from his surgeon Julian Feller.

"Round one is my goal next year. Julian Feller seems optimistic that that is a realistic goal," Hille said.

"We are looking at getting up and running later on this year and a small amount of training, then looking to come back bigger and better next pre-season into round one."

Last of the Baby Bombers, Dustin Fletcher, feels there is enough zip left to carry him through 2010.

"Last year I came into the season a bit sore. This year I probably haven't done as much of the training as the other guys, but I'm feeling pretty good. I daresay next year I'll go again, and anything after that you just wait and see. At this stage the body is feeling good, touch wood, and I think I've kept my speed, which is one of the main assets. I think I've still got a bit of a role to play," Fletcher said.

As Dustin Fletcher prepares to play his 300th AFL game, teammate Matthew Lloyd pays tribute to an Essendon great.

"I think that what I love about him is he's as humble a person as I've ever met," Lloyd said.

"He's low-key, a genuine person - just the person Dustin Fletcher, you wouldn't meet a nicer bloke, and he's a great family man."

Collingwood's Josh Fraser has been urged to play with greater intensity after he was accused of football's cardinal sin.

Former St Kilda coach Grant Thomas accused Fraser of "dogging it" in a contest with Essendon's David Hille.

"To see Josh Fraser dog it when Hille ran at him when that ball was up for grabs, and jump out of the way, and then two minutes later for Hille to do his knee, which was terrible for him, it really set the scene for Collingwood," Thomas said on SEN radio.

"And then for Ryder, unannounced, to come into the ruck and take it to Fraser, who was really, really poor, was disappointing.

"It reinforced itself a bit later when Ryder came on and there were two tackles I remember that Fraser just let people just walk through him."

Max Rooke and Henry Slattery have been cleared of any wrongdoing for making contact with umpires.

Rooke tugged the shirt of the umpire while Slattery made only slight contact with umpire Matt Stevic.

David Hille will be out for 12 months after electing to undergo a traditional knee reconstruction.

Essendon ruckman David Hille will miss the rest of the season after scans confirmed the Bombers' worst fears.

Young Bomber David Zaharakis made the most important split-second decision of his life to steal an Anzac Day classic after kicking the match-winning goal against the Magpies with just seconds left in the game.

"You do stuff like that about a thousand times a day as a kid, but for my first goal in AFL footy to be the winner on Anzac Day is just amazing," Zaharakis said after the win.

"Being an Essendon supporter you dream about kicking the winning goal after the siren in any game, but to do it on Anzac Day is just unbelievable.

"I'm still kicking myself. It hasn't sunk in and I don't think it will for a while. I won't even sleep tonight that's for sure."

Essendon ruckman David Hille landed awkwardly on his left knee in the opening minutes of Saturday's Anzac Day clash with Collingwood and is suspected to have ruptured his arterior cruciate ligament.

Matthew Knights has defended veteran forward Scott Lucas, and believes the goalkicker is "on the up" after a slow start to the season following knee surgery.

"He's just had a couple of weeks where he hasn't taken his opportunities and I'm sure that will come because he's so technically sound. It's just a matter of time before he has a breakout game," Knights said.

A minor hamstring strain sustained during the third quarter of Essendon's match against North Melbourne will put Bomber Hayden Skipworth out of action for three weeks.

Matthew Knights believes a lack of penetration from attacking opportunities cost Essendon victory against North Melbourne, not a hangover from last week's epic against Carlton.

After four years without a finals appearance and no flag since 2000, to Matthew Lloyd, simply winning has become a lot more important than reaching 900 goals, which is in within reach against North Melbourne on Sunday at Etihad Stadium.

"Early in my career it was all about those kinds of things but now, after four lean years of win-loss, that's what it's all about now," Lloyd said.

"To win three in a row, if we were to win Sunday, it will be a real feather in our cap early in the season to get our season going."

It's been a long time coming, but anxious Melbourne fans will get their first look at prized No. 1 draft pick Jack Watts when he runs out for the Casey reserves on Saturday.

"Jack's going to be a week-to-week proposition. This is the first game he's played for six months, maybe eight months, so we'll just see how he pulls up and that will determine his training next week," Melbourne coach Dean Bailey said.

"We'll see how Jack goes tomorrow and that will determine where Jack plays the following week."

Mark McVeigh will play his first game of the year against North Melbourne this weekend after rolling his ankle in the NAB Cup.

A Bomber side labelled paper-thin days ago now has a raft of selection issues and Mark McVeigh heads the list of four potential inclusions.

Essendon coach Matthew Knights has praised veteran full-forward Matthew Lloyd's courage after the 30-year-old kicked five majors to lead his team to a four-point win over arch-rivals Carlton at the MCG on Saturday night.

Fremantle rookie Greg Broughton has described his debut selection for Sunday's AFL clash with Adelaide at Subiaco Oval as a "dream come true".

"He doesn't get rattled and he has no fear about putting it on the line," Fremantle coach Mark Harvey said.

"He's dogged, determined, hates to be beaten and plays with the desire that you look for.

"Greg has also got a creative side to his game and has good composure for a guy who hasn't played at the elite level."

Jason Winderlich has a new attitude to football after suffering though some dark days following back surgery last year.

"There were times I did not think I would play again," Winderlich said. "But I'm stoked to be back playing again."

"For a while I did not think I would make it back to play, so I am playing with a lot more freedom," he said.

Matthew Knights won't rush Mark McVeigh back into the Essendon team to face Carlton on Saturday night.

Two losses to Essendon in 2008 has Carlton wanting to right the ledger, says Brett Ratten.

Surgery on a bulging disc in the back of Essendon's Scott Gumbleton has been declared a success.

An excellent debut from David Zaharakis has earned him the Round 2 NAB AFL Rising Star nomination.

Zaharakis notched 21 disposals playing on a wing including 17 kicks, 10 marks, four tackles as well as a match high seven inside-50s.

Michael Quinn's debut for Essendon started as a circus act but quickly became another amazing Irish success story.

Those in the know at Essendon say Quinn may be headed for the type of stellar career Sydney's Tadhg Kennelly enjoyed.

Brett Kirk will face the tribunal for making contact with an umpire, while Daniel Motlop and Adam McPhee have been suspended.

Melbourne president Jim Stynes says the performance of first-year Irish player Michael Quinn was amazing.

"It's pretty phenomenal," the Melbourne president said on Monday.

"The game has changed a lot in the last 10 years and it [really suits Irish] players who can kick short and kick well and maintain possession â€" that's where the game has gone."

Darcy Daniher impressed as part of a young Essendon defensive unit that limited Fremantle's scoring options.

Essendon coach Matthew Knights has thrown his support behind Matthew Lloyd and Scott Lucas, saying their return to form is imminent.

The pair have had a limited impact two rounds into season 2009 but Knights backed them to bounce back sooner rather than later.

The war of words between over Dean Brogan's suspension continued today, with Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams weighing in.

"My view is that two players walking - walking - and one bumps into the other one, yes he did it, he bumped him, but gee whizz, footy's getting a little precious," Williams said.

"It was pretty insignificant as far as I was concerned."

Essendon's Irish recruit Michael Quinn is poised to cap his remarkable rise with an AFL debut against Fremantle - five weeks after his first game.

Impressive Essendon defender Michael Hurley has injured his quad at training.

Chad Cornes is disappointed with Essendon's Andrew Lovett's role in Power ruckman Dean Brogan suspension.

Lovett's evidence at the AFL Tribunal was pivotal in Brogan being suspended for one match for engaging in rough conduct against the Bomber midfielder at quarter-time of last Sunday's match.

Lovett told the tribunal he was shocked to be forcefully bumped from behind by Brogan during the break in play.

Cornes intimated that Lovett broke an unwritten players' code of not implicating an opponent at the tribunal.

Dean Solomon has learnt from his mistakes, but his natural aggression will be an asset for Fremantle, says Dockers coach Mark Harvey.

Scott Lucas needed extra elbow room on the flight home from Adelaide on Sunday night.

The Essendon forward played out the clash against Port Adelaide burdened by a large lump on his right elbow.

But Lucas will be fit to confront Fremantle on Sunday, with the Bombers last night explaining the injury as a case of elbow bursitis.

Port Adelaide ruckman Dean Brogan will miss Sunday's match against the Eagles after being found guilty of rough conduct.

The Power big man was staring at two weeks on the sidelines had he been found guilty, after deciding to challenge a charge of engaging in rough conduct against Essendon speedster Andrew Lovett.

Port Adelaide opted to fight the charge and, despite the AFL jury members downgrading the rough conduct charge from intentional to reckless, Brogan will still miss one match.

Essendon coach Matthew Knights will resist the temptation to return Matthew Lloyd to the goalsquare permanently after a poor start to the AFL season.

Playing deep in attack and also further up the ground, the Essendon captain only had nine touches and kicked no goals on Sunday in a 41-point loss to Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.

Knights has backed the goalkicking star to regain his form quickly and added the Bombers must keep developing their attacking options.

Essendon coach Matthew Knights says his side is preparing for the different structures Fremantle could deliver this weekend.

Andrew Lovett must get used to the sort of physical aggression Port Adelaide dished out, according to his coach, Matthew Knights.

"It's a great experience for Andrew because there's been a chequered past, he's got his act together and he looks like he's going to have a good season. He's got to expect that," Knights said.

Not content with merely beating Matthew Lloyd, Port fullback Alipate Carlile accomplished the rare feat of outscoring the ageing Bomber.

Carlile ventured forward early on to nail his first career goal with surprising assurance.

Luckless Bomber Scott Gumbleton is to undergo back surgery that will sideline him for about 12 weeks and most of the 2009 season.

A back complaint may see promising Essendon forward Scott Gumbleton out for more than half the season.

Reborn midfielder Hayden Skipworth will play his first game for the Bombers at the weekend.

Essendon coach Matthew Knights has turned the blowtorch on wayward star Andrew Lovett.

The Bombers were forced to keep the gifted Lovett after unsuccessful attempts to offload him during last year's trade week, after tiring of his lack of off-field commitment.

Knights challenges Andrew Lovett to step up this year after nearly being traded from following 2008.

"The gun midfielders have the whole package. If you look at the gun midfielders, they win disposals, they win hard balls, they kick goals but they lay eight tackles a week and that's the whole package," Knights said.

''Andrew's challenge is to do that and if he applies himself I think he can slowly get towards being an elite midfielder. But that comes with time and it comes with consistency.''

Mark McVeigh has been ruled out of action until at least Round 3 with an ankle injury.

WHEN Bachar Houli became an Essendon player, he wondered how he and his Muslim beliefs would be accepted by his new AFL teammates and the world in which they lived. He need not have worried.

"I thought it was going to be a very, very challenging environment. But from the moment I stepped through the door I had guys come up to me and ask me questions about my background, and want to know even more," said Houli, who was drafted in 2006.

"I felt like they wanted to understand, and it helped me. Within the first two weeks I got to speak to almost every player as an individual, they got to know me, and after that I had so much confidence. I felt comfortable, like I could be myself and express myself."

Essendon veteran Matthew Lloyd hopes to emulate the feats of evergreen Shane Crawford, who retired after winning the premiership with Hawthorn last year.

Tom Bellchambers is set to play a larger role supporting David Hille in the ruck for Essendon in 2009.