TonyK
CibbuanoKnights defends Lloyd
June 10th 2008 21:40
ESSENDON coach Matthew Knights has thrown his support behind struggling full-forward Matthew Lloyd.
Knights said Lloyd had the full support of the club and was confident the 30-year-old would return to form.
"He's got the full support of the coach, the players, the whole club," Knights said yesterday.
"He'll be fine, he's a very resilient character. We speak on a weekly basis - he'll be fine. He'll come back into some decent form."
Knights said there had been unfair expectations this year on Lloyd, who has booted just eight goals in his past four games.
"You can't expect him to just come out and kick bags of six, seven, eight any more. I don't think it's realistic to have those expectations.
``I certainly haven't got those expectations on Matthew as a player," Knights said.
"I'm looking for him to do the basics very well, to contribute. Set up a few goals, kick a couple himself - to help the younger players.
"I'm not putting pressure on Matthew to kick bags of goals. In the modern game that doesn't happen too often - unless you wear No. 23 in the brown and yellow - so I think the expectations are a little bit high on Matthew.
``If he plays full-forward, he might get three or four; if he's up the ground, it might be only one or two."
Knights said a lack of supply into the forward line was a key factor in Lloyd's recent drop-off in form.
"In the high-profile days there were probably 60 or 70 entries coming inside 50, he was at his top and kicked a lot of goals," Knights said.
"That forward entry is not coming as quick or as plentiful as it was, so you've got to realise Matthew's not getting as many opportunities as he used to."
Meanwhile, Essendon will regain midfielder Jobe Watson but lose Jason Winderlich to a back complaint for Friday night's clash against West Coast at Telstra Dome.
In some good news for the Bombers, promising young forward Scott Gumbleton got through his first game back from a knee injury in Bendigo's win over Box Hill in the VFL on Monday.
Knights said Lloyd had the full support of the club and was confident the 30-year-old would return to form.
"He's got the full support of the coach, the players, the whole club," Knights said yesterday.
"He'll be fine, he's a very resilient character. We speak on a weekly basis - he'll be fine. He'll come back into some decent form."
Knights said there had been unfair expectations this year on Lloyd, who has booted just eight goals in his past four games.
``I certainly haven't got those expectations on Matthew as a player," Knights said.
"I'm looking for him to do the basics very well, to contribute. Set up a few goals, kick a couple himself - to help the younger players.
"I'm not putting pressure on Matthew to kick bags of goals. In the modern game that doesn't happen too often - unless you wear No. 23 in the brown and yellow - so I think the expectations are a little bit high on Matthew.
``If he plays full-forward, he might get three or four; if he's up the ground, it might be only one or two."
Knights said a lack of supply into the forward line was a key factor in Lloyd's recent drop-off in form.
"In the high-profile days there were probably 60 or 70 entries coming inside 50, he was at his top and kicked a lot of goals," Knights said.
"That forward entry is not coming as quick or as plentiful as it was, so you've got to realise Matthew's not getting as many opportunities as he used to."
Meanwhile, Essendon will regain midfielder Jobe Watson but lose Jason Winderlich to a back complaint for Friday night's clash against West Coast at Telstra Dome.
In some good news for the Bombers, promising young forward Scott Gumbleton got through his first game back from a knee injury in Bendigo's win over Box Hill in the VFL on Monday.
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