WHILE the off-season has been a trying time for Bomber fans, the prospect of a season at Windy Hill watching the red and black go around could reignite the passions of even the most disillusioned supporter.
Some of the names and faces may be the same as the old Bendigo Bombers operation, but inside Windy Hill there is clear optimism about the chance at a fresh start.
Working relationships between senior AFL teams and their VFL affiliates are often a source for fans to debate game time, tactics and player development.
The variation in how AFL teams put their non-selected seniors on the park each week varies greatly for the 10 Victorian clubs, never mind across the whole league.
VFL separations play out like high-profile celebrity break-ups, while new affiliations are sometimes portrayed like an empire walking in for a takeover.
So there is a welcome simplicity to Essendon’s new VFL operation, with a bit of logistic clarity to the split from Bendigo Bombers to form Essendon, and separately, Bendigo Gold.
Like Collingwood and reigning VFL premier Geelong, the chance to have a close working relationship between senior club and VFL affiliate is one the Bombers needed.
Now, with operations manager Matt Little at the VFL helm, they have one. Little oversees the lot: recruiting, contracts, staff, volunteers, elements of the Windy Hill centre, even the apparel.
Having got a taste of AFL with Hawthorn before a prominent VFL career, Little, 27, has a clear idea of what it will take for the VFL Bombers to achieve their goals.
“I don’t think we’ve done anything completely ‘out there’ and different to other teams,” he said.
“I was probably a little bit lucky where last year we (Bendigo Bombers) brought in a heap of new staff. I had the ability to keep some of those people in our program. We have access to facilities that some VFL teams don’t, and that’s something we’ve been able to sell to players.”
Recruiting players for the Essendon VFL team has been a hit-and-miss affair for Little and senior coach Hayden Skipworth.
“The (Essendon) recruiting department, Hayden and myself have worked pretty hard getting a list together.
“We want a winning culture that the players can grow up in, and leaders among the group given Essendon is a pretty young list.”
Little said his playing experience at Box Hill, Williamstown and Bendigo had provided good lessons on what it takes to build a culture at the tier below AFL.
“The time players spend together is important. With friendships and bonds you’ve got much more chance of keeping players the next year.”
Skipworth wears the VFL coach hat but is also a key bridge to the Essendon AFL team. The coach, who played in the Essendon District with Aberfeldie when not on Bendigo Bombers duty in recent seasons, has his coaching box ready for the season.
Paul Corrigan will oversee the backline, James Byrne midfield and Kon Karavias forward while high performance staff Jesse Campisi and Des O’Sullivan will monitor time on ground, rotations and GPS.
Essendon starts the VFL season away at Bendigo’s QEO on Friday, April 5 and will make its bow at Windy Hill against Box Hill on Saturday, April 13.
THE SQUAD
ESSENDON VFL 2013
VFL Listed: Matthew Bate, Josh Toy, Michael Sikora, Josh Freezer, Matthew Firman, Dave Fahey, Jacob Thompson, Tim Knowles, Ben Duscher.
AFL rookies: Ariel Steinberg, Lauchlan Dalgleish, Hal Hunter, Cory Dell’Olio
AFL senior list 1-3 years: Joe Daniher, Jason Ashby, Dylan Van Unen, Martin Gleeson, Sean Gregory, Will Hams, Jackson Merrett, Elliott Kavanagh, Nicholas O’Brien, Alex Browne, Luke Davis, Nick Kommer, Mark Baguley*, Michael Hibberd*, Dyson Heppell*
*Regular AFL starter
■ Further signings to be confirmed
