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Words: Simon Nimmo
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March 8th, 2008
RYDER, JETTA AND PRESCOTT RETURN TO CLONTARF
Friday morning, March 7, was a special occasion for the 40 youngsters honing their skills on a newly reticulated oval at the Clontarf Football Academy.
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Moments before senior coach Dale Kickett could blow the whistle to signify shower and breakfast time, the Clontarf coaster emerged from the peak hour Perth traffic and raced down the bank onto the oval.
To many surprised eyes, six representatives from the Essendon Football Club casually strolled onto the lush surface, merely to ‘check out training and say hello’.
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For three of them, countless memories returned.
They had been here before, week in and week out, refining the trade they now apply on the biggest stadiums in the Southern Hemiphere, in every corner of the country.
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Ashley Prescott is an assistant coach at Essendon, after four years coaching league football at Claremont and six years at the Clontarf Football Academy.
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Patty Ryder and Leroy Jetta, teammates at Clontarf in 2005, are reunited at the Bombers and are set to have promising careers as professional footballers.
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Joining the trio was Nathan Lovett-Murray (Williamstown), Alwyn Davey (Darwin) and Courtenay Dempsey (Cairns), all emerging stars in their own right, sharing similar journeys to Leroy and Patty.
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Prescott is excited in his new role at Essendon and is looking forward to moulding a competitive team from a young, talented list.
“I love the job. Its full-time football and that’s what I want to be doing,” says Prescott. “A lot of people have written the Bombers off this year. The boys have been training very hard and we are full of youthful enthusiasm that brings positive energy to the football club.
“We played good football in patches during the Nab Cup, but we all know it doesn’t count until round one."
Originally from Victoria, Prescott’s cherishes his seven years in the West.
“Life is a lot busier in Melbourne, so I miss that aspect of Perth. Kate and I really enjoyed our time over here and have great friends, so I will get back when I can.”
After introductions on the oval, the Essendon contingent joined the students for breakfast in the hall. Then it was a few games of ping pong in the Academy room, followed by a short Clontarf Foundation history lesson from Gerard Neesham.
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The morning was a valuable experience for all involved and special thanks to the Essendon Football Club for taking time out of their schedule to inspire another generation of Clontarf footballers.
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