Essendon got the job done on Anzac Day, defeating Collingwood in a thriller thanks to a five-goal final term.
The Bombers played a fast and attacking style of game, complemented by high pressure and dominant midfield duo Darcy Parish and Zach Merrett.
Kane Cornes believes Essendon’s drafting and list management deserves credit.
“I think it’s a lesson as well. A lot of Essendon fans were up in arms about the players that they lost, but what you can get is an injection of youth and a mini-rebuild,” Cornes told SEN Breakfast.
“We’re seeing three teams rebuild on the run in Sydney, Fremantle and Essendon, what it can do for a club to get some speed in, rejuvenate the list, pick up some bargains like Peter Wright and Nick Hind and you get what you get.
“It’s going to be up and down, we’ve seen that already, but you can see that the future is bright.
“I’d much rather that than a situation like Carlton or Collingwood.”
Essendon lost Adam Saad, Joe Daniher and Orazio Fantasia in the trade period, gaining top draft picks in return.
Daniher and Fantasia had barely featured for the Bombers in the previous two years, while Saad’s output has been replaced by Hind.
Nick Dal Santo believes a win like that in front of nearly 80,000 people will do wonders for the likes of Nik Cox and Archie Perkins.
“I don’t know what yesterday’s win is worth in terms of experience. Playing in front of that crowd on that day, whatever it is, it’s fast-tracked their development,” he said.
“I loved the way they performed. I think we need to acknowledge their leaders. Dyson Heppell was great.”
Essendon takes on Carlton at the MCG on Sunday in what looms as an enormous game in the context of both seasons.
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