Tim Watson is not quite as bullish as some about Essendon going into the 2022 season.
Former Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse made the huge claim earlier in the week that the Bombers are his tip for the premiership this year.
Watson, a former Bombers captain, doesn’t agree, saying he’s worried about what the forward line will look like.
Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and Jake Stringer are working their way back from setbacks, while Cale Hooker has retired. The trio combined for 108 goals for the Bombers in 2021.
“I couldn’t believe it on the weekend when Mick Malthouse said Essendon would win the flag this year because they’ve got some real gaps in their game at the moment,” Watson told SEN Breakfast.
“One of those is their forward line. I don’t agree with his prediction. My concern at this stage is McDonald-Tipungwuti, he’s still their best small forward.
“Then you’ve got Jake Stringer who at the moment has a problem with his groin. Those groin problems, they don’t necessarily go away without a long break.
“If they try and manage him and that means he doesn’t train a lot, whatever it might be, you’ve got your two most dangerous forwards possibly are going to have interrupted seasons.
“I don’t think they’ve got the players necessarily to cover those.
“I think their midfield is really good, their defence is good. They’re good, but they need the other players so I’m not as bullish as some other people are.”
McDonald-Tipungwuti stepped away from the Bombers over summer for mental health reasons and Watson doesn’t believe we’ll see him early in the season.
“He’s got a lot of work to do,” he added.
“Talking to people at the club when I was out there last week, he still has a lot of work to do both physically and mentally. Gee they need him.”
Essendon will face St Kilda on Saturday night at Marvel Stadium.