Essendon is the club Kane Cornes is most concerned about approaching the 2020 season.
Disrupted pre-seasons to a host of key injured players, Conor McKenna returning to Ireland indefinitely, the "questionable" coaching succession and the future of Joe Daniher has Cornes fearing for the Bombers.
“It’s been a shocking week for the Bombers,” Cornes told SEN’s The Captain’s Run.
“On Monday, it was revealed that ruckman Tom Bellchambers is in doubt for Round 1, he’s had knee surgery. On Tuesday, Irish excitement machine and one of my favourite players in the game, Conor McKenna, he’s gone back home … he is homesick.
“Yesterday, Tippa (Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti), he’s pinged a calf; he’s in doubt for Round 1. And this spate of unfortunate injury news … Michael Hurley, David Zaharakis, Cale Hooker and Dyson Heppell all sitting out pre-season, all four yet to return through the main training group.
“If the Bombers' three most exciting players – Tippa, McKenna and Daniher – aren’t playing, which Essendon players are going to entice you through the gates?
“The club already has a questionable coaching succession plan – which I hate – its best players are injured, and he wants out – that’s Daniher – they’ve got the longest injury list in the competition, and its best player is sidelined (Daniher).
“It’s been 15 years since this once proud club has won a final, it can’t afford to make it 16 years. They are the club that I am most concerned about ahead of the season opener in five weeks.”
Essendon face West Coast and Geelong in the Marsh Community Series prior to their Round 1 match against Fremantle at Marvel Stadium on March 21.
Listen to Kane Cornes' chat on Essendon in the player below