ESSENDON champion Matthew Lloyd says it might take a couple of years but developing duo Scott Gumbleton and Jay Neagle have the talent to one day steer the club back to the top of the ladder.
Lloyd cast doubt over whether the Bombers were capable of kicking a winning score against the competition's best teams in 2010 but called for patience with their young forwards.
He said getting as many games into them was the key to long-term success.
"I think you're always a better player once you've played 50 games," Lloyd told afl.com.au.
"Some [players] develop quicker but the majority don't. So for Jay it's another couple of years and for Scott it's probably three or four years away before you see him at his best."
In recent years, finding goals hasn't been a problem for the Bombers.
However, Lloyd's retirement at the end of last year after 270 games and 926 goals, plus the departure of teammate Scott Lucas (270 matches and 471 goals) has left a significant void.
Gumbleton, the No.2 draft pick in 2006, has been ravaged by injury in his attempt to make a mark at senior level while Neagle has sat in Lloyd and Lucas' shadow since arriving at Windy Hill.
Lloyd said he could see 2010 being Gumbleton's initiation.
"If he can just get through and play 10 or 15 games, great. If he plays well, it's a bonus.
"That's all you really expect from a guy who's had back surgery and who's in such early stages of his career.
"I think it's just about getting confidence for Scott. Judge him over the next five years.
"He's got a great engine, a great pair of hands and I’m sure that'll show out by the end of the season, but more probably in the second half of the year than the first."
As for Neagle, the son of club great Merv, Lloyd predicted his continued improvement.
"People are expecting a lot but still he's a young player," he said.
"I think once he keeps getting fitter … that's a key point for him.
"Obviously he's got the natural talent, explosive speed [and] it's just about repeated efforts and getting to more contests … and [if he can] he should become a better player for it."
Gumbleton and Neagle had little impact against Geelong in round one, combining for just one of the Bombers' 13 goals.
It raised the question as to how Essendon would fare this year, but Lloyd said the club should still have the top eight in its sights - provided the forward-line responsibility was shared.
"I'm sure they're going to win plenty of games but whether they can challenge the top four, that's another story," he said. "But I think they should kick enough to play finals footy again.
"I think (David) Hille and (Patrick) Ryder are going to be really important to assist," he added. "I think you need assistance from Mark Williams' experience … then Michael Hurley also, who's a young player," he said.
"You can't expect the world of him but I think over the next couple of years you’ll see him become a dominant forward too."
THE BOMBERS' BABY FORWARDS AT AGE 22
Scott Gumbleton (22 in August)
Games: 6
Goals: 3
Jay Neagle
Games: 21
Goals: 31
Matthew Lloyd*
Games: 88
Goals: 278
* Lloyd was drafted as a 16-year-old
