Bombers Aiming For A Flying Start

The Age

Friday April 25, 2008

Nick Sheridan

THE Bombers were focused on getting a strong start against Collingwood in today's Anzac Day match at the MCG, Essendon utility Andrew Welsh said yesterday.

The Dons had started slowly in their past two matches and it had cost them dearly, Welsh said.

"That's something that we've definitely been looking at . . . it's something that's really, really hurting us because we're playing catch-up footy for the rest of the game, and not putting the other teams under the pump," he said.

The young Bombers are also keen to improve their form over a full four quarters. "We've had a couple of close ones. We have been playing some great footy at times but also some really bad footy, so (we're) concentrating on closing down those gaps and hopefully get the win on the board," Welsh said.

While captain Matthew Lloyd had a shocker in last week's 36-point loss to the Saints, with just seven disposals and one behind, Welsh said it was more a case of adjusting to his new role under coach Matthew Knights' game plan than a form issue.

"We've got new roles, new structures that we're all trying to learn and he's played out of the goal square for pretty much his whole career and now he's trying to adapt for the better of the team, in new positions - it's just gonna take time," he said.

The Bombers and the Pies go into today's match with a 2-3 win loss record, but Welsh said current form had little to do with how teams performed amid the atmosphere of Anzac Day.

"Anzac Day is one of those days where you get out there and both sides, it doesn't matter where you are on the ladder, it's going to be a massive game and both sides come out on an even playing field," he said.

And for the younger members of the team, Welsh said today's match would be a good indicator of what it felt like to line up for a finals match in September.

"It does (feel like finals), because we stand there - national anthem, The Last Post, beside 22 of your mates just ready to get into the game, it's the closest to a finals experience you can get," he said.

© 2008 The Age

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