As Essendon’s disastrous 2015 season comes to a close in two weeks and as a new coach is set to come in next year, I thought I would look at the Bombers’ entire list and discuss what may happen to each player.
It will be split into four parts, with the first three parts will be looking at players from the defence, midfield and forward lines, and whether they will stay, leave or retire.
The final part will be about which players Essendon may go after in the trade period and what type of players they need to get from the draft.
Today we will focus on Essendon’s defensive third. The Bombers’ defence have had a solid year, but in the last few weeks they have become victim to the lack of pressure up the ground.
The standout players in defence have been Michael Hurley, Michael Hibberd and Mark Baguley. While Cale Hooker again showed early this year why he was seen as a premier defender in the competition before being moved up forward.
Michael Hibberd
Hibberd has had a solid year for the Bombers as a running half-back, averaging 22 disposals. He also has had the ability to put the clamps on opposing teams’ small forwards. He is clearly in the best 22 for the Bombers and is an integral part of their defence.
Stay: Hibberd will remain for next year and onwards as he is contracted until 2017.
Mark Baguley
Like Hibberd, Baguley has had a solid year and has been a consistent performer for the Bombers as a lockdown defender. He has done his job each and every week on the opposition small forwards and because of this he will finish high in the best and fairest.
Stay: He is out of contract at the end of this year and it’s been reported he is negotiating for a two- or three-year deal. He needs to stay and I believe he will as he has become an important player in the backline.
Courtney Dempsey
Dempsey had a disappointing year, playing just 11 games this season and putting in inconsistent performances. For the talent he has, Dempsey’s last few years have been disappointing for the club.
Leave: Dempsey is out of contract and an unrestricted free agent. I believe he will leave the club at the end of this year, whether via free agency or a Bombers’ delisting. There is no spot for him in the Essendon defence and with the Bombers looking to regenerate their list, he needs to be replaced by a younger player.
Tayte Pears
Pears has had another year interrupted through injury and Round 20 against the Crows was his first game for the Bombers since 2013. Even when he got fit in the middle of the year he struggled to find a spot in the Bombers defence, as his path was blocked by Hurley, Hooker (when fit), Ariel Steinberg and James Gwilt.
Leave: Pears is out of contract and an unrestricted free agent, so if he leaves the Bombers will get nothing for him. I think he will leave as he is too injury prone and has been on the list since 2008 and has only managed 69 games in the process. Will struggle to find a spot if he stays as others are preferred over him.
Michael Hurley
Hurley, in all the thrashings and poor performances, has been one of the few to stand up every week and perform well. He has had an outstanding year in defence, and would have come close to winning the best and fairest but has missed the last three games to injury. He will come close to being in the All Australian side as a full-back or centre half-back.
Stay: The defence is built around him at full-back, while he is contracted and not going anywhere.
Alex Browne
Like Pears, he also been cruelled by injury throughout his career and this season. Browne has come back from two knee reconstructions and this has been a key factor in his meagre return of games (11) since 2011. Browne has managed three games to this point of the season, so hasn’t got a full run of it. Like Pears, he has fallen down the pecking order.
Stay: Browne is out of contract at the end of the year but I think he will stay as he needs to be given a chance to have a full year. He is still young and developing and depending on what happens with other players he could find his way into the senior side long term.
Ariel Steinberg
Steinberg started the year on the rookie list but through good performances in the VFL was promoted onto the senior list. Has played the last seven games and has been the preferred option in defence over others. He has been given an important role as the third tall in defence. The only issue is that he has been out marked and out muscled on a few occasions.
Stay: Steinberg is another defender out of contract. I think he will stay as he hasn’t had a chance at a full year on the senior list and he has also improved and shown signs of becoming that third tall in defence.
Cale Hooker
Earlier in the year Hooker showed why he was an All-Australian backman last season with his intercept marking and spoiling. He was then moved forward in Round 13 to help Joe Daniher after Jake Carlisle went down with injury. Like the other Bomber forwards he has been a victim of the Bombers’ slow play up the ground.
Stay: Contracted and will definitely stay, the only discussion around Hooker will be what his position will be under the new coach. I think he will stay up forward for the time being to assist Daniher and Kyle Langford as they develop further.
Dustin Fletcher
Playing his 23rd AFL season, Fletcher started off well and even at 40 he was still an important member of the Bombers’ defence. Unfortunately, he has not been able to play since his injury in Round 9.
Retire: Fletcher will retire at the end of the year and will bow out a champion of the club and the AFL.
James Gwilt
Gwilt came to the Bombers this year as a delisted free agent to give Essendon more depth in their backline. He has definitely been serviceable for the Bombers this year and has played a key role in shoring up the defence when required.
Stay: Out of contract also, though I think he will stay. The retirement of Fletcher and the possible departure of Jake Carlisle means the Bombers’ defensive stocks will be left too thin if Gwilt is also shown the door. He has the capability to provide a valuable, experienced head in defence.
That ends the defenders part of the Bombers list. While others have also played in defence, I believe that this group covers the core defenders in the team..
Staying
Hibberd, Baguley, Hurley, Hooker, Steinberg, Gwilt and Browne.
Leaving
Fletcher, Pears and Dempsey
Thanks for reading, if you agree or disagree with who I think will stay or go please comment below as healthy debate is always good.
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