Darcy Parish exploded to become one of the best midfielders in the AFL competition in 2021. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

ESSENDON
2021 record: 11 wins, 12 losses (8th)

THE INS
Jake Kelly (Adelaide), Ben Hobbs (GWV Rebels), Alastair Lord (Norwood), Garrett McDonagh (Richmond VFL), Patrick Voss (Oakleigh Chargers)

THE OUTS
Cale Hooker (retired), David Zaharakis (delisted), Patrick Ambrose (retired), Martin Gleeson (delisted), Dylan Clarke (delisted), Ned Cahill (delisted), Irving Mosquito (delisted), Lachlan Johnson (delisted), Ross McQuillan (retired)

THE STRENGTHS
The Bombers surprised pretty much everyone last year when they qualified for the finals after most pre-season predictions had them somewhere near the bottom four. They were able to do it thanks largely to rookie coach Ben Rutten, who displayed an incredible ability to get the best out of his players. The likes of Darcy Parish, Zach Merrett, Jake Stringer, Jordan Ridley, Nick Hind, Mason Redman, James Stewart, Jayden Laverde and Peter Wright all played career-best (or near career-best) footy last year. For the first time in a very long time, the Bombers looked happy out on the field and enjoyed what they were doing. They now boast their strongest midfield in 20 years, with Parish, Merrett, Stringer and Andrew McGrath all featuring. Parish, in particular, went through the stratosphere last year. After 93 mostly non-descript games and only two Brownlow votes before 2021, Parish exploded to become one of the best midfielders in the competition, joining Merrett in the All-Australian team and polling 26 Brownlow votes. The Bombers were the No.1 team in the AFL for tackles on differentials last year and the full-time return of Jye Caldwell would also be a bonus after much of his first year at Essendon was marred by a serious hamstring injury. Their cobbled-together backline, which consisted of Hind, Heppell, Laverde and Stewart, started out looking like a ragtag bunch of misfits, but as the season wore on, became quite an effective defensive unit. And it will get further bolstered by the addition of Jake Kelly. Harrison Jones and Wright were impressive as key forwards in an attack that was ranked No.4 in the competition last year. Sam Draper showed enormous potential as a ruckman, while Nik Cox and Archie Perkins provided a lot of excitement for the Bomber faithful. Their win over eventual runner-up the Western Bulldogs in round 21 with their finals hopes in the balance was the clear highlight.

THE WEAKNESSES
As ‘must-watch’ as the Bombers became last year, thanks largely to their at-times electric game plan, they still struggled to mix it with the big boys. Putting their win over the Dogs to one side, they lost nine games to top-eight sides and their four worst losses of the year came against such teams – Brisbane (57 points), Port Adelaide (54), Bulldogs (49 in the finals) and Geelong (41). Essendon was also shown up in tight matches, boasting a dismal 1-4 record in games decided by 10 points or less. The Bombers’ losses to Hawthorn, GWS and Sydney (twice) by a combined 13 points might well have cost them a top-four spot. As well as the Bombers’ backline did to fight above its weight last year, there are lingering doubts as to whether it is capable of taking them to next level, while a lot now falls on the shoulders of Jones and Wright up forward with Cale Hooker retiring and Michael Hurley’s return date still unknown. Two of Essendon’s top four goalkickers from last year are either retired (Hooker) or have a question mark over their fitness (Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti). So, as it stands, there is a whiff of vulnerability about the Dons’ attacking potency. And as stacked as the Bombers’ engine room has become, they still only ranked ninth for clearances and 13th for contested possessions on differentials last season. Essendon also came in at 12th for total inside 50s conceded, so it’s fair to say that the midfield group still has a lot of work to do. And it’s hard to see big-name recruits Dylan Shiel or Devon Smith helping them out in that department, as badly as the Bombers need them to lift their game. Shiel gets some slack cut given he missed most of last year due to injury, but there’s simply no excuse for Smith’s form since winning the best-and-fairest in his first year at the club. Granted, he suffered a nasty knee injury in 2019, but that was three years ago now. If he doesn’t pull the finger out, the game is going to pass him by.

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ONE TO WATCH
It would be easy to nominate Cox, given he earned the nickname ‘The Unicorn’ last year, but Jones is the one that has got this writer really excited. At just 20 years of age, he already looks like the anchor of the Bombers’ forward line for the next decade, displaying all the attributes of what makes a key forward great. He has a magnificent set of hands on him, and became the second-quickest player in VFL/AFL history to achieve two games featuring at least five contested marks (since the stat has been recorded), reaching the milestone in just 13 games. And after overcoming the early-season yips, Jones also became a dead-eye, kicking 20.3 in his last 14 games. His absence in the last seven games due to a foot injury really hurt his team, further highlighting how important he has already become.

UNDER THE PUMP
As stated previously, Shiel and Smith are no-brainers for this category. They do not command a spot in the best 23 anymore, and should be made to earn their spot in the senior side throughout 2022. Especially in Smith’s case, his on-field attitude and ill-discipline have become unacceptable and have knocked him down quite a few pegs on the midfield pecking order. It’s up to them to work their way back because the likes of Sam Durham, Will Snelling and Matt Guelfi are much hungrier and are providing a lot more value to the side.

BEST 23
B: Jordan Ridley, James Stewart, Jayden Laverde
HB: Dyson Heppell, Jake Kelly, Nick Hind
C: Andrew McGrath, Jake Stringer, Nik Cox
HF: Archie Perkins, Harrison Jones, Will Snelling
F: Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Peter Wright, Alec Waterman
R: Sam Draper, Darcy Parish, Zach Merrett
Inter: Mason Redman, Matt Guelfi, Kyle Langford, Sam Durham, Jye Caldwell
Emerg: Aaron Francis, Dylan Shiel, Devon Smith

McDonald-Tipungwuti is named at the moment, but he still remains under a cloud after personal issues and fitness derailed the end of his 2021 season, while injury/fitness have marred his pre-season so far. Hurley could loom as the joker in the pack. It’s unclear as to when he will return from a hip infection, but if and when he does, the Bombers will have the luxury of using him at either end of the ground. Kelly’s arrival means Aaron Francis slides out of the best 23 and Brayden Ham is unlucky not to be named in the 26. And they might not be in the team at the moment, but keep an eye out for young key position players Zach Reid and Kaine Baldwin this year. They could very well have an impact down back and up forward respectively at some point.