Best 22
B: Mark Baguley, Cale Hooker, Dustin Fletcher
HB: Courtenay Dempsey, Michael Hurley, Michael Hibberd
C: Adam Cooney, Jobe Watson, David Zaharakis
HF: Zach Merrett, Jake Carlisle, Travis Colyer
F: Paul Chapman, Joe Daniher, Jason Winderlich
Foll: Tom Bellchambers, Brendon Goddard, Dyson Heppell
I/C: Brent Stanton, David Myers, Patrick Ambrose
Sub: Jake Melksham
*Team selected on the basis of having a full list available, including 2012-listed players
Health of the list
Essendon has a few players who are touch and go for round one, including Dyson Heppell (knee) and Jason Winderlich (back). Heath Hocking has already been ruled of contention as he comes back from groin surgery, while Nick Kommer is in the same boat as he deals with a long-term knee injury. Tayte Pears will be unavailable as he recovers from heel surgery, but Courtenay Dempsey (foot) and David Myers (ankle) should be fit for the start of the year.
The big questions
What will happen next week when the AFL's Anti-Doping Tribunal announces its verdict? Nobody outside of that panel knows which way the decision will go, but needless to say it will have a major impact on how the Bombers fare this year.
Can the Bombers replace Paddy Ryder? The short answer to this is no. Ryder is a match-winner, a goalkicker and a ruckman like no other in the competition. His departure leaves plenty of responsibility in the hands of Tom Bellchambers, but the early signs are that Jonathan Giles will be a valuable addition.
What will the Bombers look like under James Hird? After about 18 months between games as coach, Hird takes on a team that looks a bit different from the one he left at the end of 2013. Will we see any technical differences in the way his side plays compared to how it went under Mark Thompson last year?
Summer standout
There's plenty of excitement coming out of Essendon about the improvement of Zach Merrett over the pre-season. After 20 games on debut last year, Merrett looks set for more of a role in the midfield, where his class, vision and creativity will add some polish to the Bombers.
Fantasy cash cow
If Alex Browne can overcome his knee reconstruction and break into Essendon's line-up he represents good value as a $142,000 defender. That also applies for Will Hams, who comes at the same price as Browne after missing last year with an on-going hip injury. Hams played in the NAB Challenge last week and has many admirers at the club for his work ethic and courage.
Expect to see plenty of young Kyle Langford this season. Picture: AFL Media
Sudden impact
Expect to see plenty of Kyle Langford this year in Essendon's senior side after a promising pre-season. The club's first pick at last year's NAB AFL Draft (No. 17 overall) played in all three of its NAB Challenge games and did some exciting things as a marking, leading and versatile half-forward.
It's crunch time for …
Elliott Kavanagh. The midfielder heads into his fourth year at the club under the pump to find a place in its midfield and make it his own. Kavanagh put himself on the trade table during last year's exchange period but he ended up staying at Essendon, where he has had a solid pre-season.
Pivotal match
While the Bombers will be rank outsiders against the Sydney Swans and Hawthorn in the first two rounds, their meeting against Carlton in round three could be a different story. The Bombers thrashed the Blues early last season before drawing in the final round to secure a finals position. The big games don't stop there, though, with the Bombers facing Collingwood in round four in the annual Anzac Day game.
The Bombers will have a good year if …
The anti-doping tribunal clears the players with infraction notices and under provisional suspensions next Tuesday. The whole dynamic of Essendon's season will change if that happens, leaving the 18 or so players who are still at the club free to feature at the start of the home and away season. Of course if the tribunal decides the players are guilty and hands them suspensions, then things start to look a lot bleaker.
AFL.com.au consensus predicted ladder finish: 10th
Premiership clock: Depending on what happens at the anti-doping tribunal, Essendon is still in the finals mix but a flag shot is still a few hours away.
