THE CLUB

Formed: 1872

Joined AFL: 1897

Premierships: 16 - 1897, 1901, 1911, 1912, 1923, 1924, 1942, 1946, 1949, 1950, 1962, 1965, 1984, 1985, 1993, 2000 Last finals appearance: 2004, 1st semi-final. 2006 at a glance: Hopes were high at Windy Hill when the Bombers upset then-reigning premier Sydney by 27 points in round one. But the Essendon faithful could scarcely have predicted what would come next, with an astonishing successive 14 losses arriving before the Bombers drew with fellow cellar-dwellers Carlton. Playing without skipper Matthew Lloyd (torn hamstring) for much of the campaign, Essendon finished with three-and-half wins (one of them over the Lions) and 15th spot - the worst result during Kevin Sheedy's 26 years as coach.

2007 to date: Essendon bowed out of the NAB Cup in the first round, with a four-point loss to eventual competition winners Carlton. Things were looking much brighter after round four of the season proper, with the Bombers 3-1 and boasting wins over 2006 finalists Adelaide, Fremantle and St Kilda. Sheedy's side went into the annual Anzac Day fixture against Collingwood as warm favourites but, from there, things have come unstuck. Having jumped the Magpies early, the Bombers were eventually overrun and subsequent losses to Hawthorn and the Kangaroos have them 3-4 headed into the weekend.

Missing in action: With Lloyd resuming from a hamstring problem, Nathan Lovett-Murray is perhaps the biggest name on Essendon's rather small injury list - and he is scheduled for a test after straining a groin in training. Queenslander Courtenay Dempsey is out for a week with a hamstring ailment and fellow youngsters Scott Gumbleton, Leroy Jetta and Jay Neagle are also sidelined.

The coach: Sheedy is in the midst of his 27th season at Windy Hill - but will it be his last? The former Richmond player boasts an extremely envious career record - a 61 per cent winning ratio and four premierships - and few people have done more to promote the game since he first took the reins in 1981. The Bombers, however, have finished 13th and 15th the past two years and haven't reached the third week of September since losing to the Lions in the 2001 Grand Final. If the press is to be believed, the vultures are circling.

The gun: With James Hird no longer the player he was in his prime and captain Lloyd returning from injury, the mantle of Essendon's best player belongs to Scott Lucas - an unassuming star if ever there was one. Lions fans will need no introduction to the 29-year-old, who kicked a bag of seven against Leigh Matthews' charges in round 17 of last year and will require careful minding on Saturday night. A clear winner of the Bombers' fairest-and-best award last year, Lucas has been hot-and-cold over the last few weeks but, with 24 goals to date in 2007, he is on track to at least match his 2006 total of 67.

The bolter: Entering round one, Alwyn Davey was better known as Aaron Davey's little brother. Yet until Aaron exploded against the Western Bulldogs on Sunday, it was Alwyn who had attracted the plaudits in 2007. Taken with the No. 36 pick of last year's NAB AFL National Draft, 172cm Alwyn already has a couple of contenders for goal of the year. Blessed with extreme pace and a rare ability to finish accurately while operating on full throttle, the 23-year-old also excels in locking the ball inside Essendon's forward 50m with his tackling pressure. One for spectators (and the Lions!) to watch.

Strengths: Essendon's four most experienced players - Hird, Lucas, Lloyd and Dustin Fletcher - have, at various times, been as good as any in the league in their positions. Lucas and Lloyd form a potent forward threat, while Fletcher still has two of the best "Go Go Gadget" arms in the business.

Hird is past his prime but, when you consider how good he was at his peak, that's not such a crime. The former skipper was outstanding in the Bombers' win over the Lions in 2006 and reads the play expertly. Mark McVeigh is a level below the Hird-Lucas-Lloyd-Fletcher quartet but is a more than handy utility, capable of scrapping, taking high marks and kicking goals. From appearing positively pedestrian 18 months ago, the Essendon midfield has benefited from an injection of pace via Davey, Andrew Lovett, Leroy Jetta, Angus Monfries and others.

Weaknesses: The Bombers running brigade might have become quicker in parts, but Jetta is out injured and many of the usual less-than-hyperspeed suspects remain - Damien Peverill, Mark Johnson and Jason Johnson. If Lloyd and Lucas don't supply Essendon's goals, then who does? Back-up big forward Courtney Johns battles for consistency and may well make way for Lloyd. Ruckman David Hille, outpointed by Kangaroos youngster Hamish McIntosh last week, is another who could use more consistency along with some back-up - the Bombers' second ruckman, Jason Laycock, has been out of form and favour.

Despite the presence of ex-Lion Mal Michael and Fletcher, defence could also be a concern for the Bombers, with the talented Paddy Ryder pinch-hitting in the ruck at times and Kepler Bradley in the selection wilderness since an ill-advised kick across goals during the Anzac Day loss to Collingwood.

The Queensland factor: Dempsey and Michael are the only Queenslanders on Essendon's list. Dempsey, originally from Cairns, was drafted from Morningside with the No. 19 pick of the 2005 NAB AFL National Draft, while Michael became a Bomber through last year's Pre-Season Draft. Essendon assistant coach and former captain Gary O'Donnell spent five years as an assistant under Leigh Matthews at the Lions.

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.