Australian football Hall of Famer Terry Wallace believes Essendon is still missing a contested, inside midfielder, despite needing one for a few years.
The Bombers boast a strong midfield with the likes of Dyson Heppell, Zach Merrett, Devon Smith, Dylan Shiel, David Zaharakis, Andrew McGrath and Darcy Parish.
However, none are big-bodied midfielders who can win clearances on the inside, a player Wallace feels they haven’t had since Jobe Watson and Heath Hocking moved on.
“I think it’s fair to say all of us who analyse the game think they need a big-bodied midfielder,” Wallace told SEN Afternoons.
“Since Jobe Watson left the footy club, they haven’t had that replacement, that real grunt player in the middle of the ground.
“They went and got Dylan Shiel who is a different type of player. He’s not that (a big-bodied midfielder) and was never going to be.
“He’s a good clearance player, but he’s more of a dynamic clearance player.
“They are missing the Nat Fyfe, Patrick Dangerfield, Patrick Cripps, Josh Kennedy type of player.
“They just haven’t got one of those types of players. I think for a long time they were hoping David Myers was going to be that player, but he’s never really taken that role.
“He’s not that player as it stands at the moment so they are missing that.”
Essendon will take on Fremantle at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night, looking to bounce back from last week’s loss to Sydney.
The Bombers currently do not have a selection in the upcoming mid-season draft.