ESSENDON FOOTBALL CLUB SEPTEMBER 2012 ISSUE 5

WELCOME MESSAGE Academy Members - Scholarship Holders PLAYER AGE SCHOLARSHIP ello and welcome to another the team as they ran through the banner. Kieran Brennan 18 NSW Scholarship edition of the James Hird Academy H The evening was very well attended, with Jedd Clothier 17 NSW Scholarship newsletter! It has been a very busy and almost 50 people attending including highly enjoyable few months, with a many of our recent Premiership players. James Hird Academy Members - Father/Sons number of successful events being held, And finally, at the start of July we had the PLAYER AGE FATHER and some significant achievements by James Hird Academy boys undertaking a 18 Anthony Daniher many of the boys on the field. range of on-field and off-field sessions at Jordan Williams 18 Darren Williams Our first official event for the year was a 2-day camp at Windy Hill. Daniel Thompson 18 Mark Thompson attending the Essendon vs. Richmond Amidst all this action, we had a number Chris Carey 18 Steve Carey “Dreamtime” game at the MCG where of our boys earn significant achievements Jydon Neagle 18 Merv Neagle the boys watched the Bombers run out on the football field. In particular, Joe Callum Daniher 17 17 point victors, and finished the night in Daniher was named at full forward in the Todd Vander Haar 16 Paul Vander Haar the changerooms after the game watching Under 18s All-Australian Team following the team belt out the theme song. Jake Long 16 Michael Long some stand-out performances in the Nathan Neagle 15 Merv Neagle A few weeks later, Jett Bewick and his National Championships. In addition, Tom Wallis 15 father Darren were special guests of Jedd Clothier (NSW) and Kieran Brennan Jett Bewick 15 the Diamond Dons at their pre-match (QLD) also represented their states function before the Essendon vs. Sydney during the National Championships Harvey Daniher 14 Chris Daniher game at Etihad Stadium, where they whilst Jydon Neagle was selected in Matthew Neagle 14 Merv Neagle conducted a highly entertaining Q&A the NSW squad but was unable to play James Hird Academy Members - Baby Bombers session. This was also a great opportunity due to injury. PLAYER AGE FATHER to provide Essendon members and It’s been a successful few months and Jaxon Neagle 12 Merv Neagle supporters with an insight into the James highlights the significant momentum the Mason Fletcher 12 Hird Academy, and the range of initiatives Academy has achieved over the last 2 years. the football and recruiting departments Ricky O’Donnell 11 Gary O’Donnell are undertaking to ensure we create a To ensure you remain up to date with all Darcy Denham 11 culture of sustainable success. that is happening, please be sure to check Kurtis Barnard 11 our website at essendonfc.com.au/team/ Tom Hird 11 James Hird Also in June, we held a function for the jha or feel free to contact me Max Fletcher 9 Dustin Flecther Baby Bombers and their families before at [email protected] at the Essendon vs. game any time. Joshua Misiti 9 Joe Misiti at Etihad Stadium, followed by almost 20 Ryan Legudi Nyawi Lovett-Murray 9 Nathan Lovett-Murray youngsters making a guard of honour for James Hird Academy Co-Ordinator Alexander Hird 9 James Hird Tex Wanganeen 8 A WORD FROM HIRD Luca Alessio 7 Steve Alessio Will Hamilton 7 Paul Hamilton Hello once again to all members of the James Hird Academy. Luke Barnard 7 Paul Barnard Unfortunately our 2012 campaign has come to a premature Noah Caracella 6 Blake Caracella end which is very disappointing considering the way we Alex Alessio 5 Steve Alessio started the year, however there were still many positives to the come out of season, particularly the emergence of some Logan Daniher 4 Chris Daniher of our younger players. The first half of the season showed we Mara Lovett-Murray 4 Nathan Lovett-Murray are on the right track and we will endeavour to work hard in Aidan Ramanauskas 3 the off-season to rectify the areas where we went wrong and strive for continual improvement and excellence. William Hird 3 James Hird I hope all of your seasons have been successful to date and Thomas Caracella 3 Blake Caracella would like to wish you the best of luck in finals. Work hard Koby Bewick 3 Darren Bewick and try to get the best out of yourself but remember to Max Alessio 3 Steve Alessio enjoy your football as well. Lucas Ramanauskas 2 Adam Ramanauskas Best wishes for now and Go Bombers! Rylan Johnson 1 Mark Johnson James Hird, Senior Coach Noah Peverill 1 Damien Peverill Essendon: 1977 – 1985 147 Games 52 Goals MERV NEAGLE Sydney: 1986 – 1990 56 Games 19 Goals 7 March 1958 - 23 August 2012 Total 203 Games 71 Goals

he and the Fairest award in 1980 and equal runner- He continued “Merv was very TJames Hird Academy are deeply up in 1981. He also finished runner-up competitive. He had a brilliant football saddened by the tragic passing of in the in 1980, with 20 brain and was very astute - he could look premiership player Merv Neagle, he was votes and was fourth in the Brownlow in at a player and sum up their strengths 54. Neagle, a member of Essendon’s 1981 with 15 votes. and weakness in the game and guide 1984 premiership team, played 147 At the start of the 1986 season, Neagle them based on that. With his coaching games for the Bombers from 1977-1985. moved to the where he he could be stern and cranky at times Neagle arrived at Essendon from played 56 games. After spending five with the boys but would then relax with Dimboola in 1977 and quickly established seasons with the Swans, he retired at the them after the game. Merv liked his fun himself as one of the competition’s most end of the 1990 AFL season. but knew when to be serious - he was a loveable larrikin.” exciting players. A match winner on his Since the conclusion of his AFL playing day, Neagle was famous for his distinctive career, Neagle has coached and played at Neagle’s connection to the Essendon loping run, aggressive attack on the ball various clubs around Australia including Football Club didn’t end when he left and long, raking drop punt kicks. Merbein and Sale in , Eastlake for Sydney as his oldest son oldest son Neagle played on the wing in the 1984 Football Club in the Australian Capital Jay was drafted to the Bombers under the premiership team and his famous goal Territory Australian Football League father-son rule in 2005 and played 28 for from 55m sealed the victory for the (ACTAFL), Mount Barker Football Club the club. His four younger sons – Jydon Bombers in their remarkable last in the Great Southern Football League (18), Nathan (15), Matthew (14) and Jaxon quarter comeback. (GSFL) and Balranald Football Club in the (12) are all members of the James Hird Academy. Four-time premiership coach Kevin Central Murray Football League (CMFL). Sheedy remembers him as a ‘brilliant In 2009 he coached St Marys to the Merv was a massive proponent of the footballer’ and ‘real character’. Sheedy Northern Territory Football League James Hird Academy and truly embraced said Neagle was a great person to have (NTFL) premiership. He also coached its meaning and spirit. He would around the football club during his time North Albury and - enthusiastically attend every camp to in charge. “I was lucky enough to coach Cookardinia United-Eastlakes in NSW. support his sons and reminisce about the glory years with many of his old Merv and he was not only a brilliant This year he took over as senior coach teammates, themselves fellow fathers of footballer but was a real character and a of the Walla Walla Football Club in the Academy members. highly respected teammate and friend to Hume League and has led a remarkable many people,” Sheedy said. resurgence of a team, which had won His second oldest son, Jydon, is a ‘‘Merv was a tenacious, hard running a combined two games and a wooden wonderful young man – as are his other player and his courage and toughness spoon in the last two seasons, to eighth boys. As Jydon has expressed recently, were typical of Essendon teams of that on the ladder with eight wins this year. we will do everything possible to help him realise his dream to wear the red and era. He had a great physicality for a President of the Hume Football League, black proudly just like his dad. wingman and was a terrific kick for goal Merv Wegener spoke of Neagle’s on the run.” contribution to the community, his love of From everyone involved in the Essendon In addition to the playing in the 1984 sport and his impact on the Walla Walla Football Club and the James Hird premiership, Neagle also played in the Football Club saying “Merv always helped Academy, we would like to send our losing grand final side in 1983 and was out wherever he could in the community. deepest condolences to Donna and the named the club’s best player in the finals If we were a player short in the cricket or entire Neagle family. Merv will always hold series. He was also unlucky to miss out tennis Merv would always fill the gap. He a special place in the hearts of all Bombers on the 1985 premiership as he was a late had enormous ability as a tennis player, players, staff and supporters alike and may withdrawal from the team due to injury. cricketer and footballer - he was a great his legacy live on through his sons. He was runner-up in Essendon’s Best and all round sportsman.” 2 DAY CAMP

ur first 2-day camp of 2012 for gained an understanding into the (Assistant Coach), and senior players Othe James Academy was held role of psychology in maximising Scott Gumbleton, , at Windy Hill in early July. As with performance, and saw how the club , Elliot Kavanagh, Hal previous camps, the program aimed to uses video analysis to review individual Hunter, Anthony Long and provide a holistic insight into what is and team performance. for their contribution to delivering a required of AFL players. The boys were Special thanks to Robert Forster-Knight range of sessions. put through a range of on-field skills and Adriano Leti for their assistance Attendees: Daniel Thompson, Chris and game simulation sessions, gained in the co-ordinating the 2-day camp, Carey, Jydon Neagle, Jordan Williams, an understanding of the nutritional as well as Jesse Campisi (Strength and Todd Vander Haar, Kieran Brennan, requirements to prepare their bodies Conditioning Coach), Hayden Skipworth Callum Daniher, Jett Bewick, Tom Wallis, for optimal game-day performance, (Bendigo Coach / Development Coach), Harvey Daniher, Matthew Neagle and participated in warm-up and stretching Rick Ladson (Development Coach), Jonah Jaxon Neagle. sessions the senior players undertake, Oliver (Club Psychologist),

BABY BOMBERS EVENT

ur first Baby Bombers event for where they formed a guard of honour by clicking on this link http://www. O2012 was held before the round for the team as they ran through the essendonfc.com.au/news/a/Video:-The- 14 Essendon vs. Western Bulldogs game banner. In addition, an interview with Hangar-segment-one/9536. at Etihad Stadium. The evening kicked Essendon’s first graduate of the James Special thanks to Adriano Leti, Justin off with a function in the Crest Room Hird Academy, Joe Daniher and his Rodski, Ryan McKee, Nicholas Tait, Marc where Ian Robson (Chief Executive father Anthony was conducted on the Bertieri, Shane Potter, Michael Perrin, Officer) and Adrian Dodoro (List ground prior to the game and broadcast Sophie Szabo, and Michelle Ferrari for Manager) welcomed almost 50 guests, live on the big screen at the game, as their assistance in organising this event. amongst them many of our recent well as an interview with Tom and greats including Anthony Daniher, Blake Alexander Hird. Attendees: Joe Daniher, Jordan Williams, Daniel Thompson, Jedd Clothier, Tom Caracella, Damian Peverill, Darren Highlights of the evening were aired Bewick and Joe Misiti. Following this Hird, Kurtis Barnard, Alexander Hird, in a segment of “The Hangar” on the Joshua Misiti, Will Hamilton, Luke Barnard, function, the Baby Bombers made their channel on 5 July, which can way down to the ground Noah Caracella, William Hird, Thomas be viewed (from 4min 20sec onwards) Caracella, Koby Bewick, Noah Peverill. MEMBER IN PROFILE

JORDAN WILLIAMS AGE 18 years old

TEAM Eastern Ranges (TAC Cup)

POSITION Rover

FAVOURITE PLAYER

HOBBIES & INTERESTS Music and guitar

FAVOURITE MOVIE Step Brothers

FAVOURITE TV SHOW The Simpsons Darren Williams Jordan Williams

PSYCHOLOGY WORKSHOP – PLAYER BIRTHDAY’S CLUB PSYCHOLOGIST JONAH OLIVER

Make yourself fatigued in games and Make yourself heard - it doesn’t matter Noah Caracella 6 June - Age 6 training – want it don’t fear it. In the AFL if you are naturally a loud-mouth or every player is playing exhausted after the quiet as a mouse. Talking, directing, Logan Daniher 19 June - Age 4 first quarter... so get used to it – make shouting, pointing, asking and telling are it your friend. Then train your decision ALL COMPLULSORY to being an AFL Callum Daniher 30 June - Age 17 making while fatigued. This is critical to player. Practice it every day like your Max Alessio 31 July - Age 3 making it in the AFL. kicking!

Make yourself scared in games, training Make yourself physically strong and Alex Hird 7 August - Age 9 and outside of sport. Fear is always hard – do whatever it takes to be tough. present in sport – especially in front of Do boxing, karate or judo for example. Chris Carey 11 August - Age 18 big crowds and TV. Therefore, do things In training run hard, hard, to feel scared so you get used to it! Go complete hard. NEVER back down. Thomas Caracella 15 August - Age 3 ride that rollercoaster, take that kick off Being classy and skilful is great in the the line in training or go back for a mark AFL but you won’t make it unless you Lucas Ramanauskas 20 August - Age 2 without flinching in a game. Read out are HARD. A few bruises are like loud in front of your class mates, play an trophies of hard work. Jydon Neagle 29 August - Age 18 instrument in front of people, nominate yourself for class captain, do anything that might make you nervous. The more you do, the more you get mentally tougher at handling fear.

jonaholiver.com

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Major sponsor or individual player sponsorship opportunities exist for the James Hird Academy. If you are interested in any sponsorship opportunities, please contact: Ben Slack on 0402 483 576 or at [email protected]