Essendon youngster Will Snelling has given hope to long suffering Essendon fans, saying the Bombers are confident on their finals’ chances this season.
In Ben Rutten’s first year at the helm, the Bombers - who were expected to struggle in the 2021 season - have defied expectations to sit just six points out of the eight.
With their strong percentage as it stands, Essendon are just two wins away from seventh spot on the AFL ladder.
Snelling stopped short of saying their best footy can win any game, but believes they could push even the best teams in the competition.
“Our best footy will take any team to the last quarter,” Snelling told SEN SA Breakfast.
“Our best footy has been great, even last week against Geelong we had full control of the game in the first quarter.
“We ended up with more inside 50s and lots of opportunities, just to be able to capitalise on those is our main focus at the minute.”
Snelling is fresh off signing the first two-year deal of his career after multiple one-year deals and is averaging 17 disposals a game through his 12 matches this year.
“We’re pretty bullish, pretty excited, we’ve got a lot of home games and games in Melbourne,” Snelling said.
“We’ve got a lot left and we can definitely challenge.”
Snelling credits the chance to play finals to the personal improvement from his teammates, with Darcy Parish a prime example.
Parish had never averaged more than 21 disposals in an AFL season, but now sits among the fancies for this year’s Brownlow Medal after a permanent move into the midfield averaging 32 disposals and eight clearances a game in 2021.
“It’s pretty unbelievable, his last couple of months. The midfield change has been big for him, and he’s loving every bit of it,” Snelling said.
“I think he’s probably walked off some game and he’s feeling a little bit surprised as well. I think on ANZAC Day the ball just kept finding him, that’s the way he put it.
“He’s really humble, and one thing we’ve noticed as teammates is the way he’s taken his training to another level, and he’s challenging guys on the field there as well.
“He’s also grown his leadership off field as well, he wants to be part of the teams’ future and help the young guys come through.”
Essendon will take on Adelaide in Friday night footy at Marvel Stadium.