McVeigh article in the hun.
Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 10:02 am
Stuff calling McVeigh for captain, make him president. Puts horsburgh to shame.
Pity its not really him, its Stanton, Winders, Watson, Mcphee, NLM, Fletcher etc that need to pull their finger out.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/ ... 42,00.html
ESSENDON'S Mark McVeigh says it's up to the club's senior players to turn around the team's fortunes. Following the Bombers' sixth straight defeat, McVeigh said he had failed to set an example for younger players in Saturday night's 38-point loss to Richmond and needed to have a "look in the mirror".
He said the senior players had to take responsibility.
"I didn't play well and, as a leader of the group, I have got to have a look at myself," McVeigh said. "I take the majority of the (blame for the) loss, with a lot of other senior guys.
"The young guys had a go.
"I have got to look at myself and play better for the club. I didn't lead the kids at all.
"I'll have to look at it, go home and look in the mirror.
"I'm not happy about it, the young guys are giving everything, Matthew Lloyd is giving everything and the coach is giving everything.
"A few of us, and I am one of them, are not doing the job."
The Bombers were left soul-searching after Saturday night's Dreamtime at the 'G clash in which they were mauled in the first half.
McVeigh launched a spirited defence of captain Lloyd.
Lloyd, whose performances have been under close scrutiny, kicked four goals, three of them after halftime.
"Matthew Lloyd was terrific as a captain," McVeigh said.
"He has probably copped it over the last few weeks, but he is the best man to lead this side, no doubt about that.
"It was always going to happen if the side is not going well, Lloydy is going to be the one who cops it.
"He is a champion and he works hard at his game every week. He is professional and we are right behind him."
Saturday night's loss followed beltings by more than 10 goals in each of the previous three rounds.
Coach Matthew Knights said he was not too perturbed by the club's performances.
"I still wholeheartedly believe it's the best way to go, to bring a young group through together," he said.
"The vision is for down the track so that when we do get good we stay good. I'm not perturbed too much.
"You've got to hang tough, you've got to keep directing players and developing.
"You've got to keep talking to them, giving them feedback honestly. Eventually, they'll come through."
The outlook doesn't look much brighter for the Bombers for the next two weeks when they meet Adelaide at AAMI Stadium and the unbeaten Hawks at Telstra Dome.
Despite the bleak outlook, McVeigh said the players had confidence in Knights and the direction in which the club was heading.
"Matthew Knights has just been absolutely sensational for us," he said.
"He backs his players and we want to play for him and play for our coaching staff.
"It's an old cliche - be patient. Our club knows where it is going and (so does) the coaching staff, we are united behind them."
Pity its not really him, its Stanton, Winders, Watson, Mcphee, NLM, Fletcher etc that need to pull their finger out.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/ ... 42,00.html
ESSENDON'S Mark McVeigh says it's up to the club's senior players to turn around the team's fortunes. Following the Bombers' sixth straight defeat, McVeigh said he had failed to set an example for younger players in Saturday night's 38-point loss to Richmond and needed to have a "look in the mirror".
He said the senior players had to take responsibility.
"I didn't play well and, as a leader of the group, I have got to have a look at myself," McVeigh said. "I take the majority of the (blame for the) loss, with a lot of other senior guys.
"The young guys had a go.
"I have got to look at myself and play better for the club. I didn't lead the kids at all.
"I'll have to look at it, go home and look in the mirror.
"I'm not happy about it, the young guys are giving everything, Matthew Lloyd is giving everything and the coach is giving everything.
"A few of us, and I am one of them, are not doing the job."
The Bombers were left soul-searching after Saturday night's Dreamtime at the 'G clash in which they were mauled in the first half.
McVeigh launched a spirited defence of captain Lloyd.
Lloyd, whose performances have been under close scrutiny, kicked four goals, three of them after halftime.
"Matthew Lloyd was terrific as a captain," McVeigh said.
"He has probably copped it over the last few weeks, but he is the best man to lead this side, no doubt about that.
"It was always going to happen if the side is not going well, Lloydy is going to be the one who cops it.
"He is a champion and he works hard at his game every week. He is professional and we are right behind him."
Saturday night's loss followed beltings by more than 10 goals in each of the previous three rounds.
Coach Matthew Knights said he was not too perturbed by the club's performances.
"I still wholeheartedly believe it's the best way to go, to bring a young group through together," he said.
"The vision is for down the track so that when we do get good we stay good. I'm not perturbed too much.
"You've got to hang tough, you've got to keep directing players and developing.
"You've got to keep talking to them, giving them feedback honestly. Eventually, they'll come through."
The outlook doesn't look much brighter for the Bombers for the next two weeks when they meet Adelaide at AAMI Stadium and the unbeaten Hawks at Telstra Dome.
Despite the bleak outlook, McVeigh said the players had confidence in Knights and the direction in which the club was heading.
"Matthew Knights has just been absolutely sensational for us," he said.
"He backs his players and we want to play for him and play for our coaching staff.
"It's an old cliche - be patient. Our club knows where it is going and (so does) the coaching staff, we are united behind them."