Ladder position: 8th
Leading goalkicker: Stewart Crameri (34)
Leading possession winner: Brent Stanton (521)
Played every game: Dyson Heppell, Ben Howlett, Leroy Jetta, Mark McVeigh, Jake Melksham, Patrick Ryder, David Zaharakis
Debutants: Dyson Heppell (23 games), Alex Browne (2 games), Michael Ross (2 games)
Stats leaders
Toyota AFL Dream Team: Brent Stanton (2,247 points)
Kicks: Brent Stanton (343)
Handballs: Dyson Heppell (231)
Marks: Dyson Heppell (132)
Hitouts: Patrick Ryder (329)
Clearances: Jobe Watson
Contested possessions: Jobe Watson (225)
Uncontested possessions: Dyson Heppell (343)
NAB AFL Rising Star nominees
Dyson Heppell (round 1)
List manager
The Bombers' key stocks at both ends of the ground are strong, despite 36-year-old Dustin Fletcher nearing the end of brilliant career. Its focuses should be firmly on small players in attack and defence. With Leroy Jetta moving into the midfield, and Alwyn Davey's inconsistency, the Bombers could do with a clever, roving goalkicking forward. In defence too, Essendon has struggled against pacy, small forwards, particularly Eddie Betts, who kicked eight goals against the Bombers in round 18. Despite the improvement in Jake Melksham, David Zaharakis and Ben Howlett, another outside, classy midfielder would also go close to completing the Bombers' on-ball brigade.
Games that shaped a season
Rd 1: Essendon 16.17 (113) d Western Bulldogs 8.10 (58)
After an excellent pre-season campaign which saw it make the NAB Cup Grand Final, Essendon began its season with a dominant 55-point win over the Western Bulldogs. The Bombers looked fitter, stronger and more skilful than previous seasons in the win, with Dyson Heppell playing the first of many impressive games in his debut AFL season.
Rd 6: Essendon 31.11 (197) d Gold Coast 8.10 (58)
Essendon's first-quarter rout of the Gold Coast rewrote the record books. James Hird's side led by 93 points at quarter-time - the highest margin by the first change and the highest score - and finished winning by 139 points. Half-forward Kyle Reimers kicked eight goals, and captain Jobe Watson had 35 disposals and kicked one goal.
Rd 11: Essendon 10.8 (68) def by Melbourne 15.11 (101)
Perhaps Essendon's worst loss of the season. A week after Melbourne was accused of playing 'bruise-free footy' by Carlton's Mitch Robinson, the Demons came out firing and won by 33 points. It was the Bombers' third loss in a mid-season stretch of five defeats which almost derailed the club's finals aspirations.
Rd 15: Essendon 18.7 (115) def Geelong 16.15 (111)
Essendon broke its five-game losing streak against Geelong in the upset of the season. At the time, Geelong was yet to lose a game, and Essendon was missing Watson with a hamstring injury and entered the game rank outsiders. But, thanks to an even spread of goalkickers and some clever tactics, the Bombers won by four points in one of the games of the year.
Rd 17: Adelaide 10.13 (73) def by Essendon 12.12 (84)
Essendon had only won two of its past 16 games at AAMI Stadium, and looked like extending that poor run against the Crows in round 17. They trailed by 36 points at half-time, but, thanks mainly to Angus Monfries and David Zaharakis, the Bombers rose to an inspirational 11-point victory away from home.
What went right
As well as making the finals for only the second time since 2004, the Bombers did it on the back of a number of new faces. First-year defender Heppell played every game and became the club's first winner of the NAB AFL Rising Star Award, Stewart Crameri led the club's goalkicking tally, Tom Bellchambers improved in the ruck, and Leroy Jetta and David Myers had their most consistent AFL seasons to date. Moreover, the players appeared genuinely committed to the game-plan and philosophies James Hird and his coaching panel brought to the club.
What went wrong
Injuries certainly didn't help Essendon's cause. Losing key speedy duo Jason Winderlich and Courtenay Dempsey to season-ending knee injuries in round three robbed the team of pace, while Brent Prismall also tore his ACL in round 19 against Carlton. The Bombers were rarely able to field their best team due to collision injuries or soft-tissue concerns, a problem the club's new fitness manager, Dean Robinson, will be looking to quickly address.
Critical moment
When Sydney Swans' co-captain Adam Goodes missed his shot at goal after the siren in round 20 to hand Essendon the win, the Bombers' finals hopes became very close to reality. Had Goodes have kicked the goal, Essendon would likely have missed the top eight. Instead, his kick sailed left and the Bombers went on to win two of their last three games to sneak into eighth position.
Most valuable player
The reality is that Jobe Watson is still Essendon's best - and most valuable - player. The Bombers captain missed six games with injury in 2011, and though Essendon was able to win three of those games, Watson's influence at the stoppages, his poise, class and leadership is crucial to a functioning Essendon line-up.
Coach's pet
James Hird noted late in the year how important Kyle Hardingham had been in his team's rise up the ladder this season, and it's true. Hardingham, in his second AFL season, was shifted to a back pocket, where his aerial strength, pace, and long-kicking was crucial to Essendon's rebound.
Next big thing
For the Bombers, there's a few candidates, particularly in Heppell, Zaharakis and Jake Carlisle. But Michael Hurley is Essendon's star of the future, a genuine game-changing player who can play at either end. He has a presence in the air, on the ground and around goals, and attracts the ball.
Needs a big pre-season
It's obvious to suggest 2011 wasn't a good year for key forward Scott Gumbleton. He didn't play an AFL game, and had his season ruined by on-going hamstring and back injuries. Next season - his sixth in the system - looms as the most important of his career.
Trading places
Ricky Dyson's future at the club has been questioned, with rumours of a move to Greater Western Sydney being speculated. But, on the whole, it's unlikely the Bombers will play a major role in trade week. Only several regular players, including Travis Colyer, Kyle Hardingham and Andrew Welsh, remain uncontracted.
What they said
"My opinion is we've improved dramatically. This year we've been competitive in most games, we've had a chance in almost every game, today we didn't. If you looked at today in isolation, you can be shattered or disappointed, but you look at it in perspective over the whole year and we've made drastic improvements, and we're only going to continue to get better." - Coach James Hird after his team's 62-point loss to Carlton in the first elimination final.
In a nutshell
Essendon focused on improvement and development in 2011 and delivered on that aim. Despite the disappointing elimination final loss to Carlton, Hird's first season in charge as coach proved the future at the club is bright.
Overall grade: B+
