Injuries to experienced players ended up being a blessing in disguise for the Bombers, as it enabled Matthew Knights to unearth some real talent at senior level. When Paddy Ryder had to leave defence in order to fill a void in the ruck, it was second-year player Tayte Pears that was directed to step into his place. The 19-year-old handled himself with aplomb against some of the toughest forwards in the league, including Brendan Fevola in round 13, which earned him a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination.
After Matthew Lloyd went down with a heel injury in round 17, Michael Hurley showed his versatility by spending time up forward. He too earned a NAB AFL Rising Star award for his performance against St Kilda in round 20, before he booted three goals the week after against Fremantle.
What went wrong
The Bombers groaned under the weight of a hefty casualty list all year with David Hille's loss a major blow. They impressed with the way they were able to remain competitive throughout, but you wonder what they might have been able to achieve with just a little more luck.
Father Time appeared to catch up with one half of the dynamic forward duo that has served the club so well. Scott Lucas departs the game as one of the champions of Windy Hill and it remains to be seen if Lloyd, just four months his junior, will follow suit.
There have been some promising signs in the Bombers’ defence, but the fact remains that at the conclusion of round 22 there were just four teams, with three of those holding up the rest of the ladder, who had conceded more points than Essendon.
Most valuable player
While Jobe Watson will probably win the club's best and fairest, Paddy Ryder is the one the Bombers could not have done without this year. When ruckman Hille went down with a season-ending knee injury at the start of the Anzac Day clash with Collingwood, no one thought Ryder's brave performance that day would be the start of his phenomenal season.
Coach's award for one percenters
Tackles are one of the biggest indicators here. The Bombers are ranked fourth overall in the league and Jobe Watson's improvement in this area has been a key factor. He's always been able to get his hands on the ball, but now he's applying more pressure when he hasn't got it - averaging an extra tackle per game this year compared to 2008.
Needs a big pre-season
It was another ruined year for injury-prone pair Scott Gumbleton and Jason Laycock. Gumbleton had back problems - the latest in a string of injuries to pull the young forward from the park – and Laycock a foot problem sustained in the pre-season that kept him from all but one VFL game. Gumbleton needs a big summer to prove he really is the highly-touted junior that went at pick No.2 overall in 2006, and Laycock to assure himself a career past 2010.
Overall grade: B
