Right about now, as the Bombers lick their wounds and hear from Blake Caracella and Ben Rutten about how this elimination final will not shape next season, we come to think about what they have done this year and what key ingredient could be missing.
To understand this match we need to go back to Round 1 of this year. A jubilant Bulldogs outfit had just defeated the Collingwood Magpies at a half-capacity MCG. We all thought they were going to win a premiership from there with superb players like Marcus Bontempelli, Jack Macrae and Tom Liberatore all combining perfectly. And while they haven’t got themselves a top-four finish – at the hands of the Gabba timekeeper – this Bulldogs season has been very good.
Coming back to the Bombers, they had started the season with no wins and three losses. Nobody thought they had even a hope of finals, yet for a solid half of football they took it up to the Dogs in the elimination final before being absolutely pulverised in the second. That is still a big achievement for them considering three quarters of the country thought they were in a rebuilding phase.
Ben Rutten (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
But the question still unanswered is: how did they do it?
To start, they lured big Sun Peter Wright over to Windy Hill along with young Giant Jye Caldwell. While Caldwell has been affected by injury this year, Wright has played very well alongside fellow talls Sam Draper and Harrison Jones. They have been receiving high, long kicks from gun midfielders Darcy Parish and Zach Merrett, who have converted well, with Wright averaging one goal and five behinds a game and Jones averaging one goal three behinds a game. This has been working very well for them, as you can see from their results.
So what should we expect next year? That is an entirely new story in itself.
If I were Essendon list boss Adrian Dodoro right now, I would be trying to lure St Kilda’s Seb Ross to don the sash for 2021. The explosive midfielder is an unrestricted free agent at the Saints, and I would look to get a few more years out of his obvious talent. Ross used to be the talk of Moorabbin before injuries and inconsistency hampered his football abilities.
At his best Ross can be the definition of an X factor midfielder, and if anyone can make an unlucky football player find his best form, it’s the Bombers. This year they have coaxed out some of the best football from stars like Merrett, Parish and Devon Smith, who were already amazing players but entered some of the best form of their careers in 2021.
What Essendon need is one more explosive player to benefit from young Sam Draper’s hitout talent and also be able to play great football alongside their current stars. Ross would fill that gap beautifully.
Will Essendon try to make Ross a Bomber? Can they take him into another finals campaign? Only time will tell.
1DER
Guest
Bombers maybe one midfielder short, however, the forward line is a must fix. Mitch McGovern who although contracted until 2023 at the Blues would be worth punt as he has not developed within the their system. Is definitely capable of being a 2 goal forward as backed up with his stats this year whilst enduring an interrupted season.
Geebee
Roar Rookie
Yep, I hear you, but he's actually younger than Breust. Seb Ross looks like a real possibility, and if we could pick up Chol as well I'd be pretty happy. Rapt to see Hird & McBride continue. I like the look of McBride as a key forward. Fearless and a good mark. Hird is .....well, Hird. You can see the pedigree in all he does.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Two first rounders looked nuts at the time, and only even worse now. They were handed over under the false assumption that we were entering a flag window. No developing side would pay that sort of high price. The softener is that we got a second rounder back, the Giants selected Caldwell with one of the first round picks we gave them, and then we traded two seconds for Caldwell. So the net result was like drafting Caldwell and paying a first and a second for Shiel.
Jason
Guest
Ross for me! And Josh Battle from the Saints at the same time, Dunstan has no X factor..
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
I think the problem with caddy is his best footy is past him at the moment. I’d rather we look at someone like a Breust, or Malcolm Rjosas.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Yes and that was an atrocious bit of business we should’ve low balled gws and forced Shiel out as a free agent
Geebee
Roar Rookie
Definitely a need for lively goal smart forwards. We REALLY missed Fanta particularly with the absence of Walla. 3 forwards to come in next year, all 21 and under. Jones back, Baldwin to appear, and I have a feeling Reid may be tried out down there. When you consider the age of this side, and the lack of experience, here's a classic example. Draper & Caldwell between them have 35 games of total experience. I would also like to see another bull mid fielder to support the engine room & create more space for our elite brigade. I still believe Chol is worth a red hot go, particularly given his age. Mobile, tall, and lion hearted. Played a ripper game agains the Dons. Wondering aloud whether we also target Caddy (again). Goal smart and tough competitive beast. Thoughts?
jutsie
Roar Rookie
Think we should look at George Hewett, big bodied defensively minded and hard running mid. He is a free agent this year so wont cost a pick. Other than that I really dont think midfield is as big a concern as previous years. Parish and langford coming good and Stringer attending more CBAs has addressed alot of the issues. Caldwell showed what he is capable of in rd1-2 and first qtr on sunday so fingers crossed he can get his body right. Also you would hope Perkins can make the transition to midfield in the next few years (I think it wont be next year though). Main weaknesses for me are a dixon/Hawkins style gorilla to replace Hooker (baldwin could be that guy but big risk of whether he can make it after 2 knee recos) and also more class small fwds to support tippa (dont think cahil will cut it and unfortunately Mozzie is unlikely to come back).
Aransan
Roar Rookie
Essendon overpaid for Shiel and he would now be almost surplus to Essendon’s requirements. Bolton is very good.
O M
Roar Rookie
Bombers coughed up 2 x first rounders for Shiel! Bolton is worth more than Shiel. Anyway, its a moot point since he's already re-signed with the Tiges.
Aransan
Roar Rookie
Well, we don’t have a second round pick.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Sounds ripe for De Goey then!
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Still the difference between the Bombers and Pies at the moment is they have cap space to burn.
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
Shiels on fire!
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Yea instead of ducking he would dive hahahaha
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Yea l know, Adrian got some competition
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
you mean Richmond Tigers are lucky Im not the Bomber's list manager.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
nah the Dogs have a good list manager, sam power is really good with this sort of stuff.
O M
Roar Rookie
Dreamin’…..on both points! Lucky you’re not list manager.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Only a third? More like half we don’t want too much dead cap space.