Picks: 5, 23, 55, 67, 79
Departures: Tom Hislop, Courtney Johns, Jason Johnson, Andrew Lee, Mal Michael, Damien Peverill, Adam Ramanauskas, Danny Chartres (rookie), Dean Dick (rookie)
Where's the club at?
Rebuilding. The Bombers finished 12th on the ladder this year –the same position as the year before – but promised supporters a bit more with an exciting new game plan that began to pay dividends. With a young list headed by a young coach, the Bombers are building for the future, indicated further by the end of season cleanout Matthew Knights embarked on after telling some experienced Bombers their opportunities would be limited next year.
Needs:
A spate of retirements and departures over the past two years mean the Bombers could do with a handful of different players. The most glaring deficiencies are probably in the midfield and down back, with a lack of quality in the middle a continuing concern, although the pace issue has been addressed in recent seasons. The retirement of Mal Michael and the age of Dustin Fletcher mean a key back could be where the Bombers need to focus most, although another ruckman to support David Hille, Jason Laycock and the developing Tom Bellchambers could also help.
Recent drafts:
Last year, the Bombers welcomed four youngsters to Windy Hill in the NAB AFL Draft (David Myers, Tayte Pears, Darcy Daniher and Cale Hooker), while John Williams and Bellchambers arrived in the pre-season draft, and Heath Hocking was elevated from the rookie list. Rhys Magin and Jarrod Atkinson both made their debuts off the rookie list. The year before, they snared Michael in the pre-season draft, and Scott Gumbleton, Leroy Jetta, Alwyn Davey, Bachar Houli, Kyle Reimers and Hislop in the November draft.
Chance of taking recycled players:
Probably unlikely unless delisted midfielder Tom Hislop – who is still training with the club – gets another guernsey. The club also has former Crow and current Bendigo Bomber Hayden Skipworth participating in the summer sessions. The Bombers are rebuilding and are more likely to go with the youth approach than worry about experienced players.
What coach Matthew Knights says:
"Our midfield is an area that we have to continue to strengthen because we're probably not quite there with the other big clubs in the midfield. We've got to keep trying to develop and add to it. We've got pick five, and we haven't settled on our exact selection yet. We're probably down to three players, and it's just working out with our next pick at 23, what type of players are probably going to be around then.
"I think we definitely do need some different types of players at picks five and 23. Whether you go for a key player first, or a key defender or forward or a mid with your first pick is something we're still talking through, and it's probably a decision we'll make a week out from the draft. Chris Yarran is a lively forward who we think will turn into a midfielder. He's got explosive speed and he moves a little bit like Shaun Burgoyne. He's a quality player."
We say:
Essendon has a plethora of options for its No.1 pick – it just has to decide on which type of player holds priority. Do they go for a key back such as Michael Hurley, or as Knights speculated, a goal-kicking midfield option like Yarran? There's also ruckman Tyrone Vickery or midfielders Hamish Hartlett or Jack Ziebell as possibilities, and Daniel Rich may slide. None of these players are expected to last until pick 23, so the Bombers will have to choose wisely with their first pick to ensure they welcome a key element of the Bombers' future to Windy Hill.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
