southerncross
11-03-2007, 07:43 AM
Darcy, Murphy shine
Emma Quayle
March 11, 2007
LUKE Darcy drove to Geelong with Robert Murphy yesterday feeling more excited than apprehensive about his first game in almost two years, and went home certain both Western Bulldogs still knew how to play football.
While Darcy suspects it will take his body several weeks to become completely reconditioned to AFL games, he was happy with how he felt after the Bulldogs' 11-point practice match win over Essendon, and even more impressed with Murphy.
The forward, who had his own knee fixed after round nine last season, kicked a goal with the first of his six possessions and scored a second after tackling Essendon defender Adam McPhee.
Darcy, who injured his knee for the first time against Geelong in round seven 2005, had a couple of early hitouts and looked more comfortable, confident and willing to run after the half-time break, when he dropped back loose in defence.
Matthew Lloyd continued his comeback for Essendon, kicking his seventh goal during a final quarter cut slightly short due to the warm weather.
Darcy conceded he had been slightly nervous about returning to Skilled Stadium, where he was first hurt, and said he also had felt unsure how his body would handle its first competitive game in a long time.
"Early in the week, I was a bit nervous, but it's just excitement. It's been such a long time since I've been out there and it's what I love doing, I love playing," Darcy said.
"I know there's a lot of work to do. I've got a fair way to go, but it was great, and I thought that Murph was fantastic today, in the same position as me.
"We drove down together and we didn't say too much in the car. It was a pretty quiet trip down, but I think we'll both be feeling a bit better now that we've got the first one out of the way."
Darcy, who is to play three quarters in the Bulldogs' final hitout against West Coast in Perth on Saturday night, expected it would take a while longer for his body to readjust to life as a professional footballer, but was encouraged by the early signs.
"I wasn't quite sure what I was doing in the first 10 or 15 minutes, but Rodney (Eade) was good enough to let me play loose man behind the ball for a while, which was nice, to be able to get my hands on it a few times," Darcy said.
"It's just conditioning. I think it's going to take a while to get the body back to what it used to be like, but I'm confident it's going to happen.
"That was probably the positive thing about today, that I really felt some signs that I was moving the way I wanted to move. I'm sure that will keep improving."
Bulldogs coach Eade was satisfied with Darcy and Murphy, and also with Adam Cooney, who completed all the club's running work but had done no real competitive work until yesterday because of a groin injury.
The Bulldogs played almost their entire squad yesterday, minus Scott West and Ryan Griffen, who both are to play against the Eagles next week. Chris Grant and Brad Johnson will get more ground time, too.
"We'll play them all again and increase their game time. Next week's our last chance for a real hitout, so we'll have a reasonably full dress rehearsal," Eade said. "We'll probably take 24 players over, but Cooney, Grant, Darcy and Murphy will play at least three quarters. That should round them off nicely for round one."
Essendon was minus a string of senior first-choice players, including Dustin Fletcher, Scott Lucas, Brent Stanton, Jobe Watson and Jason Johnson, who is still a few weeks away because of a foot problem.
Emma Quayle
March 11, 2007
LUKE Darcy drove to Geelong with Robert Murphy yesterday feeling more excited than apprehensive about his first game in almost two years, and went home certain both Western Bulldogs still knew how to play football.
While Darcy suspects it will take his body several weeks to become completely reconditioned to AFL games, he was happy with how he felt after the Bulldogs' 11-point practice match win over Essendon, and even more impressed with Murphy.
The forward, who had his own knee fixed after round nine last season, kicked a goal with the first of his six possessions and scored a second after tackling Essendon defender Adam McPhee.
Darcy, who injured his knee for the first time against Geelong in round seven 2005, had a couple of early hitouts and looked more comfortable, confident and willing to run after the half-time break, when he dropped back loose in defence.
Matthew Lloyd continued his comeback for Essendon, kicking his seventh goal during a final quarter cut slightly short due to the warm weather.
Darcy conceded he had been slightly nervous about returning to Skilled Stadium, where he was first hurt, and said he also had felt unsure how his body would handle its first competitive game in a long time.
"Early in the week, I was a bit nervous, but it's just excitement. It's been such a long time since I've been out there and it's what I love doing, I love playing," Darcy said.
"I know there's a lot of work to do. I've got a fair way to go, but it was great, and I thought that Murph was fantastic today, in the same position as me.
"We drove down together and we didn't say too much in the car. It was a pretty quiet trip down, but I think we'll both be feeling a bit better now that we've got the first one out of the way."
Darcy, who is to play three quarters in the Bulldogs' final hitout against West Coast in Perth on Saturday night, expected it would take a while longer for his body to readjust to life as a professional footballer, but was encouraged by the early signs.
"I wasn't quite sure what I was doing in the first 10 or 15 minutes, but Rodney (Eade) was good enough to let me play loose man behind the ball for a while, which was nice, to be able to get my hands on it a few times," Darcy said.
"It's just conditioning. I think it's going to take a while to get the body back to what it used to be like, but I'm confident it's going to happen.
"That was probably the positive thing about today, that I really felt some signs that I was moving the way I wanted to move. I'm sure that will keep improving."
Bulldogs coach Eade was satisfied with Darcy and Murphy, and also with Adam Cooney, who completed all the club's running work but had done no real competitive work until yesterday because of a groin injury.
The Bulldogs played almost their entire squad yesterday, minus Scott West and Ryan Griffen, who both are to play against the Eagles next week. Chris Grant and Brad Johnson will get more ground time, too.
"We'll play them all again and increase their game time. Next week's our last chance for a real hitout, so we'll have a reasonably full dress rehearsal," Eade said. "We'll probably take 24 players over, but Cooney, Grant, Darcy and Murphy will play at least three quarters. That should round them off nicely for round one."
Essendon was minus a string of senior first-choice players, including Dustin Fletcher, Scott Lucas, Brent Stanton, Jobe Watson and Jason Johnson, who is still a few weeks away because of a foot problem.