AN ATTACK bursting with height and a midfield peppered with pace promise some exciting moments for Essendon fans this season.

The catch is how consistently a Bombers' squad extremely light on for experience can come up with the goods.

A spate of long-term injuries last season, many of them to promising youngsters, along with heavy recent player turnover means predictions of the club's fortunes in 2009 are based on potential more than performance.

"It's pretty difficult to put a finger on what the expectations are," coach Matthew Knights acknowledged, adding one of his primary tasks was simply to get game time into the many up-and-comers.

"Last year we unearthed a lot of players, but we still had a lot of young players miss through injury that we'd like to get more games through.

"You look at guys like Bachar Houli, Scott Gumbleton, Jay Neagle, Darcy Daniher, even David Myers and Tayte Pears.

"There were a number of them that played in bits and pieces but probably didn't get enough game time into them due to injury.

"That's one of the real goals."

Last year's injury crisis also deprived the Bombers of what looms as a potent weapon - speed.

Knights unveiled a fast-paced, attacking game plan in his debut season as a head coach, but was hampered by losing four of his quickest charges.

Alwyn Davey did not play after round five, Courtenay Dempsey after round two, with Jason Winderlich and Houli sidelined from round 11.

Another speedster, Andrew Lovett, potentially one of the club's most damaging players, was distracted by off-field disciplinary issues which resulted in two club-imposed suspensions.

Knights said Lovett, who came desperately close to being traded, was showing all the right signs, while the other speed merchants were ready to go.

"With Alwyn, Courtenay Dempsey, Bachar Houli, those type of players - Leroy Jetta - they're very exciting in nature, they're creative," Knights said.

"If we can get them out there it's going to be good for our footy team in regard to wins-losses because they are potentially all game-breaking type players."

Another potential weapon is marking power in attack.

Veteran key forwards Matthew Lloyd and Scott Lucas are set to be consistently joined by their heirs apparent Jay Neagle and Scott Gumbleton.

Injuries kept strong-marking 197cm Gumbleton to just five games in his first two seasons, while Neagle played just seven matches last year.

Knights is determined to play them as often as possible, despite the risk of the big four crowding each other.

"We are going to be big and at times we're going to be, depending on when David Hille goes down there as well, we could be real big," he said.

"But it's something we have to be patient with and I think it's important that they do play footy together, all four of those guys."

While Gumbleton and Neagle prepare to take over from Lloyd and Lucas, replacements are also being groomed for 33-year-old tall defender Dustin Fletcher and retired fullback Mal Michael.

Tall, athletic 20-year-old Patrick Ryder has gone a long way to establishing himself.

Daniher and Pears - two more players hampered by injury last year - Cale Hooker and new draftee Michael Hurley are other candidates.

Tom Bellchambers is another youngster looking to press his claims and likely to start the season as Hille's rucking partner, given Jason Laycock's injury-stalled pre-season.

While the focus is on youth, Knights said Lloyd, Lucas and Fletcher could have several years left and were vital to Essendon's hopes given the inconsistency common to young players.

And he said the development imperative did not diminish the Bombers' desperation to play finals for the first time since 2004.

"It's a priority aim to play finals football and it's also a priority from my perspective to keep moulding and developing the list," Knights said.

"They're both really as important as each other."