Essendon: Season 2013 Preview

Ahern2Boof

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G'day guys, i've written a preview on all clubs in the league, so here is Essendon's. Enjoy reading.

If any team was two-faced in 2012, it was Essendon. After a blitzing opening to the season which saw them second on the ladder, two percentage points behind the leading West Coast Eagles after Round 9 with just one loss to their name (to Collingwood by one point), the Bombers nosedived horribly, winning just three more games for the season, ending their season with a seven-game losing streak. Much of the blame was aimed at their fitness guru, Dean ‘The Weapon’ Robinson, who set about transforming the young squad of the Bombers into physical, muscle-bound machines. It backfired significantly, with a number of players suffering soft-tissue injuries, including Michael Hurley, Patrick Ryder and David Zaharakis. Essendon played terrific footy at times in 2012, showing they could match it with the top sides by thrashing West Coast by 61 points in Round 7.

The Bombers were prominent behind the scenes during the free agency period, gaining the very first signature in the new age of Australian football, the signing of St Kilda star Brendon Goddard. Goddard received a hefty pay packet to wear red and black, while Essendon also added top draft prospect Joe Daniher to their list through the Father-Son rule. Daniher has huge wraps as a tall forward/ruckman, and was touted as the best of the draft, but the Dons were able to land him at pick 10. A list cleanout was also conducted at the end of 2012, with the likes of Mark McVeigh, Sam Lonergan, Brent Prismall, Ricky Dyson, Kyle Reimers and Henry Slattery leaving the club, while Angus Monfries was traded to Port Adelaide. The Bombers have embarked on a different pre-season approach in 2013, focusing more on aerobic fitness instead of strength, which was the cause of their downfall last season. A group of 10 senior players were sent to Colorado for high-altitude training, and these players have been the standouts back in Australia, including Brownlow Medalist and captain Jobe Watson.

Best 22

FB: Dustin Fletcher | Tayte Pears | Kyle Hardingham
HB: Courtenay Dempsey | Jake Carlisle | Dyson Heppell
C: Brent Stanton | Jobe Watson | Heath Hocking
HF: Alwyn Davey | Michael Hurley | David Zaharakis
FF: Leroy Jetta | Patrick Ryder | Stewart Crameri
R: Tom Bellchambers | Ben Howlett | Brendon Goddard
I/C: Jake Melksham | Jason Winderlich | Michael Hibberd
SUB: Elliot Kavanagh
EMG: David Hille | Cale Hooker | David Myers

Backline

Essendon still struggle in defence, with the development of key defenders Tayte Pears and Cale Hooker stagnating in recent years, and the need of Michael Hurley up forward. Supporters will be hoping that young defender Jake Carlisle answers these problems at centre half back after a breakout season in 2012. The unlucky player in the famous Andrew Walker mark in 2011, Carlisle played 18 games last season, averaging 4.6 marks and 12.7 disposals. He was ranked second among the rising stars of 2012 for contested marks, highlighting the potential he has.

Dustin Fletcher will turn 38 years old in May, and he’ll be well into his 21st season of AFL football, but still in terrific form after a podium finish in the Crichton Medal, and he’ll once again provide the desperate acts deep in defence that he’s made the hallmark of his 365 games so far. Kyle Hardingham became an important member of the defence, using his high-flying ability to great effect in pack situations, while Courtenay Dempsey made a seamless return to senior football after rupturing his ACL in 2011.

By all reports, Pears has been the standout on the track at Windy Hill, and James Hird will be keen to get him back into his key defensive post to reward his determination and effort in the pre-season. Dyson Heppell also offers some class and reliability coming out of defence, with the ability to be played in the midfield as well. The Dons also have key defender Cale Hooker vying for selection, while David Myers is also on the verge of proving his high draft selection wasn’t a mistake.

Midfield

Essendon have a fast-developing midfield, led by skipper and 2012 Brownlow Medal winner Jobe Watson. The son of Tim had a superb season, averaging 29 possessions and 4.8 tackles a game while also kicking 20.8. He also ranked fourth for total clearances in the league. He was supported in the first half of the season by Brent Stanton, who had a blistering start to the year, and he was also touted as a possible Brownlow Medal winner at the halfway mark of the season. However, like the Bombers, he fell away badly, and was a shadow of his former self as Essendon started tumbling down the ladder. However his amazing potential was on show plenty of times, including his performance against Brisbane in Round 6, where Stanton picked up 39 disposals, took 17 marks and laid eight tackles in the 67 point win. He was also outstanding in the season opener against North Melbourne, collecting 35 touches, taking seven marks, laying five tackles and booting two goals. If Stanton can keep his form up to this level more consistently in 2013, opposition sides will have a hard time stopping both Stanton and Watson.

Not only will their opponents have their hands full with those players, they will now have to contend with former St Kilda star Brendon Goddard, Essendon’s gun recruit from the off-season. BJ comes to the Bombers with a wealth of experience and talent; however he hasn’t gone on with the excellent heights he reached in 2010, when he was labelled by some as the best player of the game due to his amazing versatility. These three will no doubt steer Essendon’s push for a finals berth, but they will be aided by the grunt of the midfield in Heath Hocking and Ben Howlett.

David Zaharakis, already with a Best and Fairest trophy under his belt after just four years in the game, had a horrible 2012 season wrecked by injury. With his added class and toughness around the stoppages, as well as his eye for a goal, makes Essendon an incredibly more dangerous team. The Bombers have a fleet of midfielders on the interchange bench, with the silky Jake Melksham, exciting Jason Winderlich and talented Michael Hibberd all capable of performing in the midfield, but they can also be utilised in other areas of the field.

Tom Bellchambers edges out veteran David Hille for the starting ruck position after a breakout season, and will only go from strength to strength as he shoulders more of the workload, with help from Patrick Ryder. First round draft pick from 2011, Elliott Kavanagh, has the green vest and can use his great kicking skills and good mobility as others start to tire.

Forward

The big question for Essendon supporters is: where do we play Michael Hurley? After a subpar effort in 2012, not helped by injury, Hurley has great potential at either end of the field, but I feel that he is greatly needed in attack. He booted 26.21 from 16 games, while averaging 5.4 marks. He showed his amazing ability with a small purple patch in Rounds 13 and 14, where he collected a total of 37 possessions, took 18 marks and kicked 11 goals. Alwyn Davey showed glimpses of breaking out into a consistent performer, ending with a season tally of 29.21, but struggled once he returned to the side after injury. Leroy Jetta struggled with the spotlight on his ‘staging’ tactics, but he had a relatively good season, playing 21 games and kicking 22.22.

The bull of the Essendon forward line, Stewart Crameri, continued on with his superb breakout season in 2011, kicking 32.29 despite missing four games. The player that Essendon need to truly take the game by the scruff of the neck is Paddy Ryder. He has shown plenty of glimpses of his talent, too much to suggest he won’t ever make it. He has excelled in recent seasons as a ruckman, but with Bellchambers’ development in that area, Ryder needs to harness his powers as a high-flying forward and give Essendon a decent target to kick to. He even has the ability to combine the two, as shown in the Round 8 clash with Richmond, where he picked up 13 disposals, took seven marks, won 13 hitouts and kicked four goals. He has shown amazing potential as a ruckman, so he is the perfect candidate to fill in for Bellchambers when the big fella needs a rest.

With the recruitment of Goddard, even he could go forward and play as the leading target while Ryder takes minutes in the ruck. Unlucky forward Scott Gumbleton’s career is hanging dangerously by a thread, he returned in 2012 to play six games and kick 11.4, with a career-high of four against Hawthorn in Round 18. After six seasons the number two draft pick has played only 28 games, a pitiful return ravaged by injuries, and with Joe Daniher now in the fold, Gumbleton will find it very difficult to fight his way back into the senior team as the full forward.

Final Word

Essendon showed in the first half of the 2012 season that they are a serious side capable of beating the top sides on their day. This is a valuable trait that could place them high on the ladder if they time their run to perfection and aren’t cruelled with injuries like they were last year.
 

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Doss

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Haha, somehow missed that.

Given he's probably played at least half of his football in defence, it's an understandable thing I suppose.

I think in some ways it underpins my big hope with Myers regarding him in 2013- that he is still very much under the radar and could sneak up on a few. Certainly, outside of Essendon supporters very few supporters seem to rate him- I can only hope this extends to opposition coaches!
 

Essendonia

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#7
Good summary for a non-supporter. If you've done one for each team, you must love your footy!

Did notice Myers in the 'defence' category, but as stated above, he has played there more than midfield (so far).

Probably would have given Davey more cred for 2012.

Bit harsh, but fair on Hurley. For his wraps, and his contract, we could expect more. But with his age and experience, I'm not demanding massive returns...yet.

The Pears/Hooker is a roll of the dice, and the writer's gone with pre-season form to give the edge to Pears. Probably would get agreement from most EFC posters there anyway, on talent comparisons between the two.

On Ryder, it is time for him to step up, but he needs to be given a more permanent role. Flowing from the plausible assumption that TBell will take #1 ruck, is the notion that Paddy will effectively become a forward/relief ruckman. Looks like this might happen, though not sure how I feel about it.
 
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#11
Best 22

FB: Dustin Fletcher | Tayte Pears | Kyle Hardingham
HB: Courtenay Dempsey | Jake Carlisle | Dyson Heppell
C: Brent Stanton | Jobe Watson | Heath Hocking
HF: Alwyn Davey | Michael Hurley | David Zaharakis
FF: Leroy Jetta | Patrick Ryder | Stewart Crameri
R: Tom Bellchambers | Ben Howlett | Brendon Goddard
I/C: Jake Melksham | Jason Winderlich | Michael Hibberd
SUB: Elliot Kavanagh
EMG: David Hille | Cale Hooker | David Myers

Pretty spot on there...though I'd replace Kav with Browne.
 

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#12
Pretty decent review, great work. Much more enjoyable (and intelligent) read than we get from the daily fish wrappers.

I would give more kudos to our defensive group, if they can mostly stay fit. Fletcher, Hooker, Pears, Carlisle, Dempsey, Hardingham, Hibberd, Dempsey and Heppell (maybe throw in Kavanagh and Browne) make a formidable group to select from and most still developing, apart from Fletch (legend).

These players, coupled with Hirdys ongoing mantra re defence should hold us in good stead in 2013.
 

blitzer

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#14
Great read, had no issues with any of it and it seemed a pretty fair representation of things, probably even a bit generous in some ways. Sure I'd probably make 2 or so changes to the final team, but I could say that about most of the teams my fellow Essendon supporters would name, those final spots always come down to opinion and we all have our favourites.
 

fishardansin

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#16
Yeah Myers stared against Sydney this year, playing in the middle. Came on at half time and picked up 20 touches in a half and was a big part of the turn around. He is obviously a big boy and will be that midfielder in the mould of Watson, Thompson and Kennedy. I'd swap him with Melksham. I'd also swap Jetta and Davey, small change I know but Davey is better close to goal and Jetta is really a midfielder that hasn't come on! I'd like to see him rotate

I would like Hooker in the side though because he's our only defender capable of taking a gorilla if Hurley is playing forward. Not sure how to structure him into the backline though because Carlisle has been great and I really want Pears to come on, he's got so much class.
 
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