GREATER Western Sydney coach Kevin Sheedy believes his former side Essendon has every chance of winning its 17th flag in 2012.
Sheedy is the last man to coach the Bombers to a premiership, claiming the last of his four flags back in 2000, a side skippered by current Essendon coach James Hird.
On the eve of the first showdown between Essendon and GWS at Skoda Stadium on Saturday night, Sheedy declared his old team right in the mix for this year's title.
"It's a very open year. No one would've thought that Geelong would be out of the eight at this time of year," he said.
"I think the team that improves the most from about the halfway mark is probably going to give themselves an opportunity.
"Essendon has that opportunity, they're building up to that, and we're going to make it hard for them.
"We're not just going to turn up and let them smack us and hope they get a lot of percentage, we want them to walk off the ground tomorrow night saying 'this [GWS] side is going to be really good'.
"[Essendon are] really developing a good backline, good height, I'm glad to see [Dyson] Heppell's not playing this week I must admit, but he's been a good player for them.
"And they've got some toughness in the middle with [Heath] Hocking and Jobe [Watson].
"They've got a chance.
"No one has a grand final [appearance sewn up] this year. A lot will depend on injuries and whether older players in some sides really tire between round 18 or so into the finals."
Most are expecting a lopsided victory for the third-placed Bombers, but Hird insists he is wary of a GWS side that welcomes back the likes of James McDonald, Dylan Shiel and Devon Smith.
"He's a little bit more relaxed than the first time I met him," Hird said of his former mentor.
"But fundamentally that competitive nature and tenacity and desire to beat his opposition is still there.
"We don't underestimate that this weekend.
"I don't know exactly how they're going to play, but I have a feeling they're going to come out very strongly and play the Kevin Sheedy style, and that's to compete, contest and make sure you influence the contest."
James Dampney covers Sydney AFL news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_JD
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of the AFL or the clubs
