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From http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,18174607%255E19742,00.html
Sheahan's report on Dons
17 February 2006 Herald Sun
Mike Sheahan
IF THERE'S a club that should make a run from the tail-end this year, it is Essendon.
On the proviso the Bombers have reasonable luck with injury, they will play finals, or they will have stuffed up along the way.
That's a big call on a team that finished 13th last year, but logic says that's how it should unfold.
Here's why. James Hird, Matthew Lloyd and Dustin Fletcher remain elite players, fit and stung by the disappointment of 2005; Scott Lucas and Adam McPhee sit just below them; and then there is a group of solid, reliable performers headed by the Johnsons, Jason and Mark.
Midfielder Scott Camporeale joins them from Carlton to add class and pace where it has been needed most; Richard Cole, a Grand Final player at Collingwood at 20, gets a chance to restart his career where he wanted to be in the first place; and Chris Heffernan is back in hospitable territory after a forgettable stay at Melbourne.
Then there are the youngsters, a group headed by Brett Stanton, third in the best-and-fairest last year in only his second season.
The others include the gifted and exciting Andrew Lovett, Kepler Bradley, Jason Laycock, Jobe Watson, Ricky Dyson, Angus Monfries and Henry Slattery.
By any definition, this is a talented, experienced and versatile list. Hard to see it finishing in the bottom half of the ladder for the second year running.
Hird mightn't be quite what he was, but he will go into the season supremely fit, hungry and spurred by the thought he is only six months from retirement.
The major pluses between seasons are the solid preparation for new skipper Lloyd and the fitness of McPhee, even allowing for a minor knee problem.
Lloyd played too soon after a broken arm last year, lost confidence and didn't really hit his straps until the second half of the season.
He never looked quite the Lloyd of old, yet still managed 40 goals in the last 11 rounds.
McPhee is a gun, capable of being a top-20 player.
He appeared in 14 games last year, looked hampered by a stomach problem from quarter-time in the opening round after a blistering start, and still finished eighth in the best-and-fairest.
The Bombers toy with the idea of throwing him in the midfield and even playing him forward, but he is a natural rebounding defender.
Essendon struggled to field its best line-up from the opening round last year, when Lloyd, Laycock, David Hille and Dean Rioli were among the missing.
Yet the Bombers were good enough to beat St Kilda, Geelong and the Bulldogs in their worst of 25 seasons under Kevin Sheedy.
Essendon has a dream start this year, despite a first-up engagement against the premier. There will be no better time to play the Swans than Round 1.
The following six engagements don't involve one team that played finals last year.
In the first nine rounds, Essendon plays four games at the MCG and four at Telstra Dome, with the Round 2 trip to Brisbane the only travel commitment.
That is a not a draw; that's a head start.
Of the youngsters, Lovett is a star, Stanton looks a star in the making and Bradley and Laycock should be special.
Lovett was a late starter at 22, but the wait was worth it. He kicked 25 goals in 20 games in his first season, and, whatever he does, he does it with panache. Few players are more watchable.
Bradley probably plays centre half-back in this team, but you get the feeling Sheedy would love to try to turn him into Anthony Koutoufides of four or five years ago.
At 20, 198cm and 103kg, with 24 games to his name, it's worth a try.
Problem is, who is left to play at centre half-back? Dean Solomon can in an appropriate match-up, but he is only 189cm.
There's another interesting name among the youngsters, Watson.
He is gearing up for his fourth season having just turned 21. He's a boy, but boys with famous names have to grow up in a hurry.
I'm tipping he will be a player. He's not going to win at Stawell any Easter soon, but he's got footy smarts.
Like most young blokes, he needs time. He certainly deserves better luck with his body and, if he gets a fair crack at it, he will gradually establish himself.
Joel Reynolds represents a similar story. He has been around the place even longer, but has just 27 games to his name.
The romantic side of Sheedy desperately wants both boys to succeed. It is a big year for both.
Big year for the club, too. A repeat of 2005 won't be accepted meekly. Anything less than a spot in the eight should be deemed a failure.
==========================================================
I don't disagree with him.
Sheahan's report on Dons
17 February 2006 Herald Sun
Mike Sheahan
IF THERE'S a club that should make a run from the tail-end this year, it is Essendon.
On the proviso the Bombers have reasonable luck with injury, they will play finals, or they will have stuffed up along the way.
That's a big call on a team that finished 13th last year, but logic says that's how it should unfold.
Here's why. James Hird, Matthew Lloyd and Dustin Fletcher remain elite players, fit and stung by the disappointment of 2005; Scott Lucas and Adam McPhee sit just below them; and then there is a group of solid, reliable performers headed by the Johnsons, Jason and Mark.
Midfielder Scott Camporeale joins them from Carlton to add class and pace where it has been needed most; Richard Cole, a Grand Final player at Collingwood at 20, gets a chance to restart his career where he wanted to be in the first place; and Chris Heffernan is back in hospitable territory after a forgettable stay at Melbourne.
Then there are the youngsters, a group headed by Brett Stanton, third in the best-and-fairest last year in only his second season.
The others include the gifted and exciting Andrew Lovett, Kepler Bradley, Jason Laycock, Jobe Watson, Ricky Dyson, Angus Monfries and Henry Slattery.
By any definition, this is a talented, experienced and versatile list. Hard to see it finishing in the bottom half of the ladder for the second year running.
Hird mightn't be quite what he was, but he will go into the season supremely fit, hungry and spurred by the thought he is only six months from retirement.
The major pluses between seasons are the solid preparation for new skipper Lloyd and the fitness of McPhee, even allowing for a minor knee problem.
Lloyd played too soon after a broken arm last year, lost confidence and didn't really hit his straps until the second half of the season.
He never looked quite the Lloyd of old, yet still managed 40 goals in the last 11 rounds.
McPhee is a gun, capable of being a top-20 player.
He appeared in 14 games last year, looked hampered by a stomach problem from quarter-time in the opening round after a blistering start, and still finished eighth in the best-and-fairest.
The Bombers toy with the idea of throwing him in the midfield and even playing him forward, but he is a natural rebounding defender.
Essendon struggled to field its best line-up from the opening round last year, when Lloyd, Laycock, David Hille and Dean Rioli were among the missing.
Yet the Bombers were good enough to beat St Kilda, Geelong and the Bulldogs in their worst of 25 seasons under Kevin Sheedy.
Essendon has a dream start this year, despite a first-up engagement against the premier. There will be no better time to play the Swans than Round 1.
The following six engagements don't involve one team that played finals last year.
In the first nine rounds, Essendon plays four games at the MCG and four at Telstra Dome, with the Round 2 trip to Brisbane the only travel commitment.
That is a not a draw; that's a head start.
Of the youngsters, Lovett is a star, Stanton looks a star in the making and Bradley and Laycock should be special.
Lovett was a late starter at 22, but the wait was worth it. He kicked 25 goals in 20 games in his first season, and, whatever he does, he does it with panache. Few players are more watchable.
Bradley probably plays centre half-back in this team, but you get the feeling Sheedy would love to try to turn him into Anthony Koutoufides of four or five years ago.
At 20, 198cm and 103kg, with 24 games to his name, it's worth a try.
Problem is, who is left to play at centre half-back? Dean Solomon can in an appropriate match-up, but he is only 189cm.
There's another interesting name among the youngsters, Watson.
He is gearing up for his fourth season having just turned 21. He's a boy, but boys with famous names have to grow up in a hurry.
I'm tipping he will be a player. He's not going to win at Stawell any Easter soon, but he's got footy smarts.
Like most young blokes, he needs time. He certainly deserves better luck with his body and, if he gets a fair crack at it, he will gradually establish himself.
Joel Reynolds represents a similar story. He has been around the place even longer, but has just 27 games to his name.
The romantic side of Sheedy desperately wants both boys to succeed. It is a big year for both.
Big year for the club, too. A repeat of 2005 won't be accepted meekly. Anything less than a spot in the eight should be deemed a failure.
==========================================================
I don't disagree with him.
Now i am just waiting for the sky to fall down as it has been a while since Mike has written anything so normal about us
