Dein erstes Forum » Jr., Matt Kenseth and Ryan Blaney all wiill start ahead

DESPITE Essendon being in uncharted territory without so many of its best players, the clubs morale is incredibly strong, game performance manager Mark Neeld says.The Bombers, who lost 12 players to season-long anti-doping bans in January, have only won one game this year and sit at the bottom of the ladder with a percentage of just 56. They face the daunting prospect of a clash against West Coast at Domain Stadium on Thursday night.Neeld wont chase another senior coaching gigBut many at the club believe the pain of this year will eventually develop a significant silver lining, due to so many young draftees and top-up players being given valuable experience when they otherwise wouldnt.Neeld, who joined Essendon in 2015 and assumed a new role implemented by senior coach John Worsfold, said everyone at the club was remaining positive despite the on-field struggles.Because of the environment John has created - one of education and learning and wanting to be challenged - I think the morale is very good, the former Melbourne coach told ESPN.Ive just come out of an education session with 43 players and the input from the players was as good as Ive seen at any footy club Ive ever been involved with.You certainly can [feel the positivity].As well as praising the debut season of No.5 draft pick Darcy Parish and former Cat Mitch Browns resurgence, Neeld said the impact of the so-called top-up players couldnt be understated.He said former Geelong great James Kelly had been especially impressive. Kelly joined the Bombers having retired after 273 games for Geelong, but was talked into going around again. The three-time premiership star has added much-needed leadership off the field and on it - where he has averaged 26 possessions, six marks and four tackles a game during what may, or may not be, be a one-off year in black and red.Having people in our organisation like James Kelly, Mathew Stokes, Ryan Crowley, Jonathan Simpkin and Mark Jamar has been great for our young players, Neeld said. Theyve offered so much as coaches and players. Its [been] great for our playing group.Even if they play one year, these guys have come in a position no ones ever been in before, and theyve been brilliant.John outlined their role and it took some time for them to think it over but theyve embraced that role of coming in from day one and being a leader, almost a playing coach, and still expected to lead on the playing track.Were a much better football club having James Kelly playing. Are we starting to get rid of players too early? Maybe. I can certainly see the value of having people like that stick around. And hes playing outstanding footy.The Bombers have netted several key signatures this year and appear set to regain the vast majority of their banned players for the 2017 season.Neeld said no club had ever had to endure what Essendon had this season, but added he was confident significant gains could be made next year.Whatever our group looks like when its back together, its going to have a heap of experience in it, he said.[We are in] uncharted territory - [its] not that difficult to have a vision of how we want to play; were very steadfast in how we want to play defensively, offensively and around the structures, theres absolute clarity there. [But] were learning a lot about people management this year. Having players join an elite sporting club almost two-thirds of the way through pre-season hasnt been done before, so in terms of having to be across all their training [it has been difficult].We have to make sure when the players finish this year and come back for pre-season training, theyre fully aware of our values and standards and the way we want to play, so if youre going to re-join or join for the first time, the players need to lead the way. Dakota Hudson . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team. John Gant . Barcelonas entertaining victory ensured the defending Spanish champions retained their share of the league lead with Atletico Madrid two rounds ahead of their meeting in the capital. 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HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Joey Logano leaned in toward Jimmie Johnson and offered a few words of comfort.At least we all sucked, Logano said.The four NASCAR Sprint Cup championship drivers all failed to get that one final boost they needed to better position themselves to win it all Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway.Logano, Carl Edwards, 2015 Sprint Cup champion Kyle Busch and Johnson all will start outside the top five. Busch will start ninth, Edwards 10th, Logano 13th and Johnson 14th. Johnson would match Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Richard Petty for the NASCAR record with his seventh career Cup championship.I dont think any of us want to start that far back, Edwards said.But they are bunched close enough that one TV camera can probably catch them all as they head into the first turn on the 1.5-mile track. Busch started third in the finale last season, won the race and his first career Cup title.The foursome likely wont lag behind the front of the field for long.This is a place you can pass, Logano said.The highest-finishing driver among the four is the 2016 champion. Under the revamped Chase format, the Homestead winner the last two years won the championship.Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski, eliminated from title contention in earlier rounds of NASCARs playoffs, played spoiler and swept the front row.I think weve been the two best cars all year, Keselowski said.Ryan Newman, Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott, Martin Truex Jr., Matt Kenseth and Ryan Blaney all wiill start ahead of the championship drivers.ddddddddddddThe drivers out of the championship picture traditionally part to let the contenders race each other hard in the meat of the race.You get a little more respect from those guys, Busch said.Amid a heap of tributes, Tony Stewart starts 11th in the final race of his NASCAR career. Stewart is trying to race to his 50th career Cup victory and end a triumphant career in victory lane.There hasnt been any part of my career that I didnt enjoy, Stewart said. There are things about everything that Ive done that Ive liked more than others and disliked more than others. But as a whole, Ive en