News

From the Herald-Sun
Reported by Sam Landsberger
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ESSENDON will effectively field a reserves team this year after instructing Bendigo coach Hayden Skipworth that AFL-listed player development must take precedence over winning VFL matches.

The Essendon-Bendigo alignment will expire after the 2012 season, with Skipworth appointed this year's Bendigo coach before he takes the reins of the Bombers reserves next season.

Skipworth made it clear that developing Bombers coach James Hird's next generation of stars was priority No.1.

"It's been made very clear to me from the powers (that) be at Essendon that it's not about win-loss - it's all about playing the young Essendon guys in the positions they need to be played in," Skipworth told the Herald Sun.

"If we lose games because of that, then so be it.