BOMBERS SENSE TAKE OFF IS CLOSE
It takes time for a new coach to fully implement plans and last year was only Brad Scott’s first in charge of the Bombers.
The players have said they believed they are now more aligned to the plans after a second pre-season under Scott, that standards are lifting and that the “water level’s rising”.
Essendon has not won a final since 2004, so can Scott plot a path to finally break that run this year?
Having finished 11th with 11 wins last year, it’s certainly possible.
HANDY RECRUITS
The Bombers added four recruits who should make an immediate impact.
Essendon landed former North Melbourne backman Ben McKay as a free agent, who will take some pressure off the likes of Jayden Laverde and Jordan Ridley.
Fellow former Kangaroo Todd Goldstein is to pair with Sam Draper in a two-pronged ruck attack, while wingman Xavier Duursma and forward Jade Gresham can add different looks with pace and skills.
They should all help make the Bombers better.
CLEAN RUN, PLEASE
There are three talented talls on Essendon’s list who haven’t had a good run.
Harrison Jones (pick 30, 2019 national draft), Nik Cox (pick 8, 2020 national draft) and Zach Reid (pick 10, 2020 national draft) have all been hard hit by injuries and heavily interrupted pre-season campaigns in their time at Tullamarine.
The Bombers will want them on the park this year to have an impact.
Reid has been a standout in preseason and could be a key in defence alongside recruit Ben McKay.
Key forward Jones also had an uninterrupted off-season after two tough years, while Cox has been restricted by an ankle issue but will be hoping for a big year in the back half.
DEFENSIVE TWEAKS
Essendon was one of the easiest teams for opposition sides to move the ball against last season and it showed on the scoreboard.
The Bombers conceded the fourthmost points of any team in 2023, averaging 89 points against per game.
While personnel changes down back should help, there has been a clear focus over summer on putting more pressure on the ball around the ground to protect the defence.
Players acknowledged it was a “whole field” problem last season and have been working to get a stronger defensive system right – from fullforward to fullback.