Essendon’s bold goal of a top-four AFL finish by 2018 remains the priority for coach John Worsfold, despite their devastating CAS verdict.
Worsfold is confident that whatever happens to their 12 banned players, the Bombers can develop a strong team in three years.
Soon after Essendon appointed Worsfold last October, the club unveiled an ambitious strategy to become a top-four team by the final year of his three-year contract.
But that was before the CAS verdict in January, which upheld WADA’s appeal and meant 34 current and past Essendon players were found guilty of doping charges.
It meant the Bombers would be without 12 players, including many of their stars, for this season.
While Essendon appear to have recruited well with 10 replacements, no one is quite sure how the Bombers will perform this year.
“I can see both – I have a really clear picture of what our squad looks like with the 12 players coming back and how exciting that will be,” Worsfold told AAP.
“But I also know that if, for whatever reason, we don’t get them all back, that we still have a good balance within the group.
“(With) future drafts and trading, we can keep the list right up there.”
The 2006 West Coast premiership coach added that the top-four goal was only feasible if the squad had enough talent and was at the right demographic.
He said Essendon had a lot of good talent among their first- to third-year players and these would start hitting their straps around 2018.
“Talent alone is not enough – we’ve seen that with GWS and Gold Coast,” he said.
“We can hit that (demographic), in terms of age and experience, games played – we can have a really good blend in 2017-18 and beyond.”
Worsfold also will focus on development and performance this season – not one or the other exclusively.
“You don’t have to say ‘okay, Darcy Parrish has to play every week’ to say that he’s developing,” he said of the top-10 draft pick.
“He doesn’t necessarily develop quicker by playing more AFL footy – every player is different and you have to be careful.”
Worsfold noted the 10 replacement players deserved the opportunity to play to their potential.
Up to four of those will be in action on Sunday when Essendon play their first NAB Challenge match against Carlton at Ikon Park.
Worsfold used former Fremantle onballer Ryan Crowley as an example of a player who was determined to play in the AFL as much as possible this season.
“He wants to play AFL footy and he’s training like he wants to be in the team,” Worsfold said.
“I can’t then just say ‘well mate, you’re the best trainer and you’re in the best form, but I’m not going to pick you’.
“It’s unfair, it doesn’t work and it won’t create a great culture around here.
“Part of development is players fighting to earn their right to play AFL footy and not just be handed games – they have to show they’re up for it.”
Macca
Guest
Murphy, Gibbs, Cripps, Kerridge & Kreuzer out of the midfield - we really will get a good look at the young blokes. I think Buckley will spend a lot of time in the mid field this year, we will be looking to utilize his speed. Korcheck looks an exciting long term prospect, massive unit who is mobile and looks good below his knees - not expecting much tomorrow but could be anything.
Col from Brissie
Guest
Gibbs, Kerridge and Kreuzer also missing from the midfield Macca which means we should get a good look at what Phillips, Whiley and Cunninham have to offer. Will alo be good to see Buckley & Smith get a run too. Looking forward to getting our first look at Weitering, Silvagni and Glass-McCosker as well. I see that they have also named the big American Korchek as well.
Aransan
Guest
I think Essendon are looking beyond 2016 Macca in terms of talls picked up in the draft and top-ups. My belief is that in recent history they have seen the value in mid-talls such as Langford, Laverde and Francis. Carlton have done well in picking up Charlie Curnow and Jack Silvagni for the same reason. Langford and Silvagni are bottom age players and that also is often a source of value given good analysis by your list management, and of course Weitering and McKay fall into that category as well. We do have to be patient with bottom age players, even more so if they are talls. We should be happy if Parish and Weitering just do enough this year to consistently justify their places in their respective sides.
Macca
Guest
Fair enough Aransan, hopefully we both get some hope out of tomorrow's game. For what it's worth I think you will want to get your wins in the first half of the season, younger players plus top ups with limited preseason and picking up more taller players and losing more mids will take its toll
Aransan
Guest
Macca, I don't know how close they are to full strength. I just like winding up windbags with strong opinions but who run a mile when push comes to shove. I don't believe Essendon are certainties to win the wooden spoon, for the good of the younger players they will be trying to be competitive as they can be and I believe the top-up players chosen are good.
Macca
Guest
How close to full strength is the bombers side Aransan? I know the blues are missing Murphy and Cripps out of the mid field and Walker up front out of the extended squad but I still think the blues might be worth a punt if they are the underdogs.
Aransan
Guest
Essendon are odds on to beat Carlton tomorrow with the bookies. Here is your chance, load up on Carlton!
mattyb
Guest
That's actually a pretty fair comment in regards to developing talls.
WhereIsGene
Guest
Top 4 by 2018? Looks like the injections are still being handed out in Tullamarine because Woosha must surely be on something to say that. They're a lock for the spoon this year, most of their 12 banned players will leave after suing the club, and they'll spend the next few seasons anchored to the bottom of the ladder. Predictions of top 4 are nothing more than a pipedream uttered to keep their members from deserting.
Aransan
Guest
Of course any club will be able to make a bid for the top-up players once the season is finished, but Essendon will have a much better idea of the potential of those players and they should be favourably disposed towards Essendon.
Rabaul
Guest
If 2 or 3 of the top-up players have good years, eg out of Crowly, Grimma, Grimley, and Michael Essendon could draft them as apart from Crowly they all are in the mid-20's with years left in them. Crowley has looked great as a forward, has trained hard, looks fast, a strong mark and could be a valuable player for another 2 years as Essendons young forwards - Daniher, Laverde, Langford, Fantasia develop and gain experience. With, say 10 of the 12, returning, and added to with perhaps another 3-4 top 20 drafts, Essendon would be in an excellent shape for 2017-2019 premiership window. Worsfold sees this possibility and is excited. He will use this year to lay the foundation, rotate the younger players, get them valuable experience without over exerting the pressure on them to be there every week. Essendon fans at last should see light at the end of the tunnel and despite a possible very poor win-loss ratio this year, will have great optimism for 2017.
Aransan
Guest
It is important for the development of the younger players that they play in teams that are as competitive as possible, or are as competitive as possible in a game for as long as possible. It won't help the development of the younger if they are consistently overwhelmed and I believe Essendon have done well in their choice of top-up players to allow the young players to develop in a good environment. Clubs have belatedly recognised the value of key position players, hence the raids on Essendon for Ryder and Carlisle and Hooker will be targeted next. Essendon know how to develop such players and when I look at some of the top-up tall players discarded by other clubs I am confident that some of them will show enough to continue their careers at Essendon beyond 2016. A number of other clubs don't know how to develop such players they just want to poach those players developed at other clubs.
mdso
Guest
John seem to be a breath of fresh air after the past three years or so. Truth is, its needed. Speaking honestly, no one one knows how or can predict how Essendon will perform??? Its a case of let the boys play and see what happens. And good luck to all of the Essendon 34. Everyone at Bomberland needs a change and a shift. This can only happen if the media lay off and let them play. We all know how newspapers need to get their clicks however the media, can hold themselves, at least partly responsible, for over dramatization of this saga-fest. They need to question themselves about their uncouth behaviours of feeding a hungry public.. The public on the other hand, need to ask themselves, how they would feel and behave if this had happened to their team? And; it is a case for some teams of but for the Grace of God go I. I'm certain if the public had have been capable of doing this, some of the things which have occurred would not have happened. Some behaviours have been very distasteful. How would you feel having the media camped on your front lawn night and day for nearly six months? Your kids abused and spat on. Everywhere you went being the target of snide remarks. Yes people can be cruel. Its a case of better you than me. Quite un-necessary and often without the facts, only media fodder and half truths. I know this to be true it happened to me. I am a 70 year old woman, with an Essendon sticker on the rear car window. A well built man came up in the parking lot of supermarket, I had never seen him before and he became hostile and abusive. He blocked my way to my vehicle, without me opening my mouth. I felt speaking wouldn't help the situation. He eventually punched my rear windscreen luckily it wasn't my head and walked away. Unfortunately, this is not a one off and has happened to other people un-necessary and out of control antisocial behaviour. People think they are entitled to express their opinion in any way they like. What is happening in our society? Where has common courtesy gone - if you can't say anything reasonable then say nothing? I have now removed the sticker from my rear window because I do not want another experience like this. Yes, I did report the matter to the local police who were sympathetic but basically next to useless.