2010 AFL Season Preview - Essendon
By Allblack
So where to start when looking at a team you love and trying to be objective. Last year gave Bombers fans a lot of hope for the future, the hope is still there and there looks to be some quality young players but will 2010 be another building year or the year the team starts to see success as a real option. If I leave out some players it is because I can already see this will be a long one.
The backline statistically did not have a good year last year. They let too many teams kick scores against them but that doesn’t tell the whole story. A lot of that rests on a midfield that didn’t work hard enough both ways. There is much reason for hope with Pears and Hooker looking like very solid defenders for the coming years. Fletcher is still a gun and seems comfortable with his role in bringing the future players through. Run from half back was crucial last year with Dempsey filling a hole the Bombers have had for a while. His run from defence gives opposition teams something to think about. The bombers still seem to lack a quality small defender and whilst there was some successful trialling of Jetta in the VFL he isn’t a lockdown style player. Atkinson showed a little form towards the end of last year but I am not sold on him as a player, his decision making worries me and his skills have a way to go.
The Bombers are still searching for a successful midfield mix. Watson last year was comfortably the best the Bombers had and his clearance work is as good as anyone in the AFL. A poor year from McVeigh is a worry at this stage of his career and he needs a much better year this year. Welsh is extremely important as a ball winning tagger, his form was off last year after injury but seems to have found his niche. Myers needs to have an impact this year after taking his time adapting, he has been disappointing at best, hasn’t picked up the speed of the game and makes poor choices on the field. Houli needs to work much harder defensively if he is to play much more AFL footy, he needs to have an impact this year or he may miss the boat. Lonergan I thought was misused last year often as a forward when he should be right in the guts. I am not sold on Hocking, I don’t know if he is more than a depth player. Dyson had his best year but still needs to improve further. Stanton is under rated by Bombers fans and has worked hard on his defensive side. I don’t know what to make of Slattery, some weeks I love him and next week he drives me crazy. Licha mind you is a beauty and after years of struggling is finally repaying the faith. Zaharakis looks a good young player and would like to see him play a bit more this year.
The thing that stands out is the amount of midfielders we have, amongst them some pretty average ones. The Bombers have invested heavily in trying to find a good midfield mix and I am not sure they still have the players.
The forward line post Lloyd and Lucas was always going to be an interesting situation but there is enough young talent to suggest it wont take too long to get things right. Neagle has all the tools if not the attitude, Gumby has the attitude and the tools if not the body. Still is young but there is something about him I like from the very small amount I have seen. Add to those talls and we have the switch hitters in Daniher and Hurley. Hurley I would like to see as a forward as I think he is a star and will be able to better influence games from CHF. Reimers I like but have trouble at times remembering why. He needs to find some consistency. Monfries is the same, he needs to find real consitancy. I liken him to Didak a little bit and wonder if some time up the field may help him. Davey will be stronger this year but I still have concerns he isn’t a natural small forward. He lacks goal sense. Jetta is a real interesting one. I watch him and his sense of the game and the way the play is happening is great, he reads it very well. I just sense those nerves or perhaps over thinking get in the way and he fumbles a bit. I would love to see Jetta backed in from the start of the season. Mark Williams is the wildcard this year and think the Bombers would like 40 this year at least off him during the transition from Lloyd and Lucas to the future.
The rucks for the Bombers are strong if fit. Hille will be first ruck once up and going and with Ryder as backup the Bombers have a very good ruck division. Laycock I have little to no faith in at all. Bellchambers and Bock still need a lot of development.
The coach is a hard one to mark. He got the team into the finals which was great but for mine the defensive side of the game still needs a lot of improvement especially through the midfield. I think I said the same thing last year but I still find him hard to judge. This year should make it easier. They outperformed my expectations last year.
I am not expecting the Bombers to make the 8 this year. It is possible they will be around the bottom of it but I still have some question marks over the list. I would think we should be happy with somewhere from 8-10 and expect 10 will probably be the mark.