TRIPLE premiership full-back Mal Michael believes Essendon supporters have plenty of reason for optimism this season, likening the current list to that of the successful 1993 “Baby Bombers” outfit.

Michael is preparing for his 13th season at the top, and his second at Essendon, and is more excited than ever at what lies ahead.

Now 30 and one of only a handful of players with genuine AFL experience, the hulking Michael said it was vital the team’s younger brigade stood up in the first season with Matthew Knights in charge.

“A lot of the players unearthed last year will be better off for the season. A couple of our third and fourth year players might need to grab hold of the team and grab it as their own,” he said.

“The reliance on the older players needs to swing back to that age-group, and that’s where our season will be developed.

“I see a lot of similarities in this team to the ’93 Bombers side. There were four or five older players and a lot of good younger players and they seemed to gel pretty well. I see a lot of similarities there and I think if we can get the chemistry right we can have a good year.

“I think we’ve got the chemistry right. There’s no reason we can’t get off to another flyer and hopefully sustain it now, because the players are a bit more hardened.”

Michael himself is in far better shape to attack 2008 after getting a full pre-season under his belt.

The immovable object that helped Brisbane to premierships in 2001, 2002 and 2003 started his Essendon career early last year after previously announcing his retirement.

However Bombers supporters can expect an even better season this time around.

“I started in January last year so I was a bit behind the eight-ball to start,” he said.

“I could never recover last year. After each effort I was tired and I just never had a chance to regroup after each contest.

“It’s like anything in life; because I wasn’t prepared for last season it was very difficult to play, but this year I’ve done the hard work so hopefully it’ll pay dividends.”