Essendon will be intent on forcing their way into the finals in Brad Scott’s second season at the helm.
The Bombers were impressive until the last two months of the 2023 campaign before they dropped away rapidly.
But next year is a new year and they’ll be doing everything in their power to finally end that pesky finals drought.
The defence has been bolstered by the trade period capture of Ben McKay from North Melbourne. He is the type of player the club has been crying out for over the last few years.
He will now lead the defensive line which will allow Jayden Laverde and Jordan Ridley play roles more accustomed to their respective frames.
Zach Reid is another defensive option but you’d imagine the Dons would start with Andrew McGrath and Dyson Heppell as the smaller defenders if McKay, Laverde, Ridley and Mason Redman are all in the back six together.
Overall, the backline looks much stronger than last season but there is a slight weakness in terms of depth for their smaller to medium backs.
Captain Zach Merrett and Darcy Parish will again take care of the midfield.
But they won’t be alone as there are options elsewhere with a fit Will Setterfield, developing youngster Ben Hobbs and Jye Caldwell, who looked good when he was up and going.
Setterfield seems the safe and balanced pick to start in midfield with Hobbs and Caldwell next up.
Dylan Shiel will also be pressing for senior footy as soon as he is good to go after foot surgery, while Elijah Tsatas should be staking his claim. If he is not playing Round 1, he won’t be far off.
In the ruck, Sam Draper (groin) is a genuine starting option when fit, with Todd Goldstein there for support. But will they play two rucks when Draper is available? They tended to go that way last season.
The club would love the oft-injured Harry Jones to get his body right and hold down a key forward position alongside Peter Wright.
Archie Perkins and recruit Xavier Duursma can rotate through the middle from half-forward and wing positions respectively.
Additionally, Jake Stringer and Jade Gresham can also pinch-hit in the midfield as both are quality clearance players in short bursts.
Kyle Langford was superb in 2023 and is expected to again play a key forward line role alongside Wright. They could, however, do with more depth from a marking viewpoint if Jones doesn’t quite come along.
Could that prompt the Dons to blood no.10 draft pick Nate Caddy?
SEE THEIR BEST 22 BELOW
B: M.Redman, B.McKay, J.Laverde
HB: A.McGrath, J.Ridley, D.Heppell
C: N.Martin, D.Parish, S.Durham
HF: J.Stringer, H.Jones, A.Perkins
F: J.Gresham, P.Wright, K.Langford
Fol: S.Draper, W.Setterfield, Z.Merrett
Int: T.Goldstein, X.Duursma, J.Caldwell, B.Hobbs, D.Shiel (sub)
EMG: Z.Reid, J.Menzie, E.Tsatas, N.Hind
Overall thoughts: There seems to be more balance than in 2023, which is a promising sign for the Dons.
The defence, on paper at least, is in better order following the arrival of McKay which will be more than handy given last season’s woes.
There is enough depth through the midfield to support star on-baller Merrett and his sidekick Parish, while the ruck stocks are ok since Goldstein made his way to The Hangar.
In attack, it could be hit or miss, especially if Langford is unable to repeat his 2023 heroics.
The Dons made a lot of headway under Scott in the first half of last season, indicating they are a capable side, but the drop-off was alarming and brutal.
Their setup doesn’t scream ‘finals team’ but Scott has much more to work with in 2024.