Last Year
Essendon were one of the teams fighting it out for 8th spot in 2009, and were able to secure it with just 10 wins and a draw after defeating reigning Premiers Hawthorn in round 22. They impressed many with their attacking game play but were sometimes exposed when the opposition was able to rebound effectively. This meant some big losses for the young side, making the Bombers the only finals team to have a percentage of less than 100. Regardless of their finals result (a 96 point thumping from Adelaide at AAMI) Bombers fans should be happy that finals action has once again returned to Windy Hill, and hope that they can achieve it again in 2010.
Backline
This was an area that started to mature in 2009 but will need to mature further in 2010 if the Bombers have any hope of securing another finals birth. Tayte Pears was the star having played all 23 games for the Bombers. Pears took on most major key forwards including Jonathon Brown and Brendan Fevola with positive results. Cale Hooker and Darcy Daniher both received chances throughout the year and showed promising signs but will need to lift if they want to secure a senior spot regularly. Michael Hurley struggled with injury but managed to finish with 10 games for the season. Hurley showed he can be played in both defence and attack, shutting down Warren Treadrea in round 1 and kicking 4 fantastic goals in round 22. With the departure of Andrew Lovett, Courtenay Dempsey now has the opportunity to secure himself in the attacking half back flanker role using his speed and agility to set up the Bombers up forward. These young players were lead by the experience of Dustin Fletcher and Nathan Lovett-Murray who both impressed throughout the year.
Midfield
The midfield is the key to the Bombers gameplan, and they impressed in 2009. Jobe Watson came of age and consequently won the Crichton Medal as the Bombers best and fairest, as well as being appointed as Matthew Lloyd’s successor as the Bomber captain. Brent Prismall returned from a knee reconstruction to play his first games for the club and started to impress once he got match fitness. Andrew Welsh also returned from a serious leg injury, and although he took a few weeks to get back into it he started to get back to his best. Jason Winderlich starred after missing 2008 and the following preseason due to a back injury and consequent surgeries. Winderlich managed 19 games for the Bombers and was best on ground on multiple occasions, including winning the Yiooken Medal for the Best on Ground in the Dreamtime at the G match against Richmond. After a full preseason you can expect Winderlich to be fit and firing in 2010. Brent Stanton is another player who’s relentless running is a major part of the Bombers game plan. Stanton will always push himself to his limits and can often be seen either setting up the forwards or kicking the goal himself.
Forwards
This will be an area of the Bombers team that people will watch very closely in 2010. With the departure of key forwards Matthew Lloyd and Scott Lucas the question beckons, who will be the Bombers main target? The team has a few young talls that will need to step up and provide the target that will be needed, but I would expect to see a few different lineups as the year progresses. Jay Neagle is the obvious choice to play the full forward role, after adding 12 games to his career last season. Neagle needs to work on his second efforts and fitness, but if he can do that he could become a decent threat. Michael Hurley is another youngster who has shown promise up forward. He rotated between the backline and forward line in 2009 and with the departure of Lloyd and Lucas I would expect to see him spend more time up forward. More returns like round 22 last year and he will be a great target to say the least. Mark Williams has come across from Hawthorn for 2010and will provide a solid option as a medium forward, and along with Angus Monfries the two of them should be able kick a few goals. The last player that could be a hope for Essendon is Scott Gumbleton. “Gumby” as he is affectionately known has been at the club for a few years now but has struggled with injury. He has got through a solid preseason and impressed in the Bombers intra-club match recently. Expect him to feature in the NAB Cup and hopefully during the home and away season.
Rucks
This was an area of concern for the Bombers last year. With David Hille going down in the opening minutes of the ANZAC Day clash with an ACL injury Bombers fans were left wondering who would be able to fill his role. Enter Patrick Ryder. Ryder really matured in 2009 after being thrown into the number 1 ruck role for much of the season. He used his athleticism to his advantage and often leapt over his opponent to get first use of the ball. With Hille returning from his knee reconstruction, and Ryder already having matured as a ruckman, this could end up being a dangerous combination for the Bombers. In reserves they still have Jason Laycock who is still fighting injuries, Tom Bellchambers who is still young and maturing, and youngster Christian Bock who is a few years away from securing any sort of ruck role as his body is nowhere near what is required.
Summary
2010 will be a very interesting year for the Bombers. If they can find a cohesive forward line structure, and work hard on their defensive efforts, you can expect to see them in the hunt for finals action again. If they can’t kick the goals required to win matches though it will be hard for them and they might start to fall down the ladder again in a kind of anti-climactic fizz for fans. Finding the forward structure that can kick winning scores will be the key for them this coming season.
Expected Finish: 8th-10th
Best 22
FB: Nathan Lovett-Murray, Tayte Pears, Henry Slattery
HB: Courtenay Dempsey, Dustin Fletcher, Mark McVeigh
C: Brent Stanton, Andrew Welsh, Jason Winderlich
HF: Patrick Ryder, Michael Hurley , Angus Monfries
FF: Mark Williams, Jay Neagle, Alwyn Davey
Fol: David Hille, Jobe Watson, Brent Prismall
Int: Heath Hocking, Sam Lonergan, Kyle Reimers, Ricky Dyson
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8th-10th seems a very fair prediction from a Dons supporter.
Good to see you have both eyes open Ben.
With a bit of confidence, being a young side they may just surpass that too!
[...] 8th-10th 2010 will be a very interesting year for the Bombers. If they can find a cohesive forward line structure, and work hard on their defensive efforts, you can expect to see them in the hunt for finals action again. If they can’t kick the goals required to win matches though it will be hard for them and they might start to fall down the ladder again in a kind of anti-climactic fizz for fans. Finding the forward structure that can kick winning scores will be the key for them this coming season.See the preview here. [...]