New Essendon coach Ben Rutten has outlined what the side will look like under his regime.
The Bombers under John Worsfold were known for an attacking brand of footy, running and gunning off half-back and moving the ball with forward handballs.
However, Rutten says his side will bring a sustainable, defensive game style to the table in 2021.
“I think we’re in a position now where we’re really looking forward to what next year is going to look like,” Rutten told SEN Breakfast.
“I’m really keen to build a really strong, identifiable brand about the way we play, about what we stand for and that’s about building a really strong, sustainable finals brand of footy.
“I think what we’ve seen in the past is that really strong defensive teams, teams that are good in the contest, teams that have a good balance between attack and defence, they’re all the hallmarks of the consistent teams.
“I really want a Ben Rutten coached team to be a blue-collared team and I think that’s at the core of what Essendon is and what Essendon has been built on in the past.
“I really want our team to be a disciplined team on and off the field. I want them to have a really strong work ethic and ultimately I want to build a really strong trust and dependability in what we do.
“Me as a coach am no different to our supporters in that we turn up every week and want to be really proud and know what we’re going to get from the players and from our footy team.
“That won’t guarantee results. We know that and we understand that, but we want to understand that we need to build our game on some really tough, hard footy, the contested footy, we need to connect really well and build some strong comradery and cohesion on our team.
“Some of that stuff takes time, but by putting performance front and centre in what we do, and that’s going to lead our decision making, what’s going to best position ourselves to win a premiership and stay a premiership contender for as long as possible.
“That’s going to be front and centre in what I do as a senior coach.”
Essendon lost nine of their last 10 games in 2020 and slumped to 13th on the ladder.
They lost Joe Daniher, Adam Saad and Orazio Fantasia in the trade period, but brought in Jye Caldwell, Peter Wright and Nick Hind and also hold three top 10 draft picks.