Draw assessment
The Bombers had a tough draw last season, but enter 2012 with a much better fixture on paper. They have to travel five times, including twice to AAMI Stadium in four weeks, but should be able to notch many wins in the first half of the season. The Bombers play Port Adelaide, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Richmond, GWS and Melbourne in the opening 10 rounds - games they will be expected to win.

Pivotal match
It's hard to go past Anzac Day. The perennial big game against Collingwood will carry even more interest than most years with the game on a Wednesday. Both clubs will only have a four-day break between rounds four and five, meaning player management will be crucial in this period.

Injury list
The Bombers go into the year the fittest they have been in several seasons. Scott Gumbleton (back) and Brent Prismall (knee) are on the long-term injury list, but there are few other serious concerns for the club after a tough summer. Jason Winderlich might not be available until round two or three with knee soreness, while Alex Browne's hamstring injury will keep him out of senior contention for the first month or so.

Track specialist
Essendon fans would have heard a lot about Jake Melksham's pre-season, but another 20-year-old Bomber, Jake Carlisle, has also impressed. The key position player has put on a little bit of baulk - he weighs 93kg - but has also developed his game to be an option at either end of the ground. Expect him to play a lot of senior football in 2012, mainly in defence.

Dream Team special
Captain Jobe Watson is Essendon's best player, and a well-priced premium midfielder in the Dream Team landscape. Watson was one of the leading scorers in the first half of last year before hamstring injuries halted his momentum, and with him priced at $492,500 he should be on Dream Team radars.

Draftee watch
Though no first-year Bomber appears likely to make the same impact that Dyson Heppell did last year, rookie Cory Dell'Olio might be best placed to forge his way into the Essendon line-up. The small and clever forward kicked 57 goals last year in the WAFL for South Fremantle and has performed well in intra-club games over summer.

Needs a big year
With Dell'Olio's probable emergence it is an important year for Alwyn Davey. Davey had an inconsistent season in 2011, playing 14 games and kicking only 16 goals. He needs to get more of the ball, and create and convert more scoring opportunities.

Best and fairest tip
It would be easy to predict Watson to win his third Crichton Medal, but Michael Hurley, if fit, will push for the honour. The emerging star finished third in the best and fairest last year despite missing five games with injury. He has been voted into the club's leadership group and appears ready to take the next step in his exciting development. 

The Bombers will have a good year if…
Their young group of midfielders stay fit, stay keen and continue to progress in the same fashion as last season. David Zaharakis needs to be better than he was last year when he won the best and fairest, and Melksham, Travis Colyer, Ben Howlett and Heppell should continue their improvement.

The big issues
How will the ruck situation be managed? David Hille, Tom Bellchambers and Patrick Ryder could all be Essendon's No.1 ruckman. How James Hird and his coaching panel manage that situation will be intriguing.

Will the inclusions of Courtenay Dempsey and Jason Winderlich push Essendon up the ladder? It certainly won't hurt. Losing the pair in the same quarter early last season to knee injuries cost the Bombers a huge amount of speed, dare and experience. Their return will be of huge benefit.

Finals? Hird said at the club's season launch that he didn't have any idea how Essendon would go this year, but rejected suggestions the club would be worse than last year, when it finished eighth. Few appear to expect the Bombers to repeat that effort but if they can it would be a huge step in the right direction.

Best 22
B: Dustin Fletcher, Tayte Pears, Michael Hibberd
HB: Courtenay Dempsey, Cale Hooker, Dyson Heppell  
C: Jake Melksham, Jobe Watson, David Zaharakis
HF: Angus Monfries, Michael Hurley, Stewart Crameri
F: Leroy Jetta, Patrick Ryder, Jason Winderlich
Foll: David Hille, Brent Stanton, Heath Hocking
I/C: David Myers, Kyle Hardingham, Mark McVeigh
Sub: Ben Howlett


AFL.com.au predicted ladder finish: 11th

PICK YOUR BEST 22 BOMBERS

Follow Callum Twomey on Twitter at @AFL_CalTwomey.

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL