southerncross
12-03-2007, 07:20 AM
Darcy makes a solid comeback (http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,21359737%255E19775,00.html)
11 March 2007 Herald-Sun
Jon Ralph
BULLDOGS ruckman Luke Darcy yesterday declared his first game of football in almost two years a resounding success.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,1658,5413375,00.jpg Happy to be back: Bulldogs ruckman Luke Darcy yesterday. Picture: Tim Carrafa
Darcy, 31, made a solid return to football in the Dogs' 11-point win over Essendon at Skilled Stadium, the ground at which he first damaged his knee, in Round 6, 2005.
While he admitted he took some time to adjust to the pace of the game, he picked up a dozen possessions, four marks and two hitouts.
Fellow knee victim Robert Murphy, who travelled to Geelong with Darcy yesterday, also got through unscathed and kicked a pair of goals from six touches.
Darcy and Murphy will play again on Saturday night against finals conqueror West Coast at Subiaco as the Dogs mount a full-strength "dress-rehearsal" for their Round 1 clash against Geelong.
"It was good to get through – It's been a long while," Darcy said. "I was really excited about today, I was looking forward to getting out there.
"I probably realise I've got a long way to go, but it was just nice to play a full game and get through. I think 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. I know there's a lot of work to do, I've got a fair way to go, but it was great.
" `Murph' was fantastic today, in the same position as me. We drove down together and felt a bit the same."
Coach Rodney Eade said he was happy the pair, playing their first games for the year, along with Adam Cooney (groin) and Chris Grant, came through unscathed.
"You could just tell (Darcy) was rusty," Eade said. "He got a couple of possessions early, but he thought the last half he really started to run and run well.
" `Murph' pulled up really well – he played the game time we wanted (him) to play."
Eade was likewise content with the efforts of Grant and Cooney.
Shaun Higgins corked his thigh, but should play next week, along with Ryan Griffen and Scott West, who were absent yesterday.
Essendon is set to play a full-strength side against Hawthorn at Casey Fields on Saturday, although Jason Johnson is struggling with a leg injury and may miss Round 1.
Coach Kevin Sheedy said captain Matthew Lloyd continued to improve each week.
Lloyd kicked seven goals yesterday.
"It was a good hitout," Sheedy said. "If we had have kicked the goals we should have got – it might have just been a kick in it.
"We showed good midfield pace and direction to the forward line.
"It was good to see `Lloydy' kick seven. Every match he gets, he will get a little better. They had 29 players and we probably had about 25, so we are not worried about the scoreboard."
11 March 2007 Herald-Sun
Jon Ralph
BULLDOGS ruckman Luke Darcy yesterday declared his first game of football in almost two years a resounding success.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,1658,5413375,00.jpg Happy to be back: Bulldogs ruckman Luke Darcy yesterday. Picture: Tim Carrafa
Darcy, 31, made a solid return to football in the Dogs' 11-point win over Essendon at Skilled Stadium, the ground at which he first damaged his knee, in Round 6, 2005.
While he admitted he took some time to adjust to the pace of the game, he picked up a dozen possessions, four marks and two hitouts.
Fellow knee victim Robert Murphy, who travelled to Geelong with Darcy yesterday, also got through unscathed and kicked a pair of goals from six touches.
Darcy and Murphy will play again on Saturday night against finals conqueror West Coast at Subiaco as the Dogs mount a full-strength "dress-rehearsal" for their Round 1 clash against Geelong.
"It was good to get through – It's been a long while," Darcy said. "I was really excited about today, I was looking forward to getting out there.
"I probably realise I've got a long way to go, but it was just nice to play a full game and get through. I think 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. I know there's a lot of work to do, I've got a fair way to go, but it was great.
" `Murph' was fantastic today, in the same position as me. We drove down together and felt a bit the same."
Coach Rodney Eade said he was happy the pair, playing their first games for the year, along with Adam Cooney (groin) and Chris Grant, came through unscathed.
"You could just tell (Darcy) was rusty," Eade said. "He got a couple of possessions early, but he thought the last half he really started to run and run well.
" `Murph' pulled up really well – he played the game time we wanted (him) to play."
Eade was likewise content with the efforts of Grant and Cooney.
Shaun Higgins corked his thigh, but should play next week, along with Ryan Griffen and Scott West, who were absent yesterday.
Essendon is set to play a full-strength side against Hawthorn at Casey Fields on Saturday, although Jason Johnson is struggling with a leg injury and may miss Round 1.
Coach Kevin Sheedy said captain Matthew Lloyd continued to improve each week.
Lloyd kicked seven goals yesterday.
"It was a good hitout," Sheedy said. "If we had have kicked the goals we should have got – it might have just been a kick in it.
"We showed good midfield pace and direction to the forward line.
"It was good to see `Lloydy' kick seven. Every match he gets, he will get a little better. They had 29 players and we probably had about 25, so we are not worried about the scoreboard."