More than the usual number of teams rose and fell in the 2021 season, but nobody predicted that Essendon would make the finals.
They were predicted to finish in the bottom four, in spite of a widely lauded recruitment period, with an ageing group of veterans and a large group of untested youngsters.
Half of the time they were a tipper’s nightmare and a fan’s delight, then the tables would turn and they’d lose games they were expected to lose and burn fans’ faith as they yo-yoed around the middle of the ladder.
As to what was missing is anyone’s guess because they have good players all around the field, with some genuine A-graders emerging, yet the one thing they lack is experience and even that reservoir took a hit with several departures leaving the list young and mercurial.
Who’s gone?
Patrick Ambrose, Irving Mosquito and Cale Hooker retired, while David Zaharakis was delisted and has as good as retired.
Ned Cahill only managed six AFL games across his first two seasons without being impressive, yet Carlton have picked him up in their VFL squad, while Dylan Clarke will train with St Kilda in hopes of getting another chance in the AFL.
Lachlan Johnson, son of triple flag winner Chris, was delisted after only ten VFL games having been through the Bombers’ next generation academy program and being drafted in 2019, although he was immediately snapped up by Richmond’s VFL program.
Martin Gleeson’s delisting after nine seasons with the Bombers was arguably the harshest given his consistent service. However, the writing was on the wall as he was delisted and re-rookied last season.
Supplemental selection period
Essendon went into the 2021 pre-season with a spare list spot, which became two as the extent of Michael Hurley’s injury became known.
(Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)
So they gave a reward to the hard work of Alec Waterman, son of dual premiership star Chris. Waterman’s delisting from West Coast due to crippling illness came full circle with a return to the AFL.
In February, a double ACL rehabilitation for undrafted free agent Kaine Baldwin was transferred to the sunny Gold Coast where the young man had enrolled to study medicine at Bond University and train with the Suns’ academy. But the Bombers invited him to do the same in Melbourne from the comfort of a list spot.
Mid-season rookie draft
The ladder after Round 10 had Essendon narrowly trailing Richmond, so when the Bombers pinched Richmond VFL player Sam Durham right before the Tigers’ pick, it marked yet another episode in draft sniping between the clubs.
Free agency
Essendon had no hesitation in taking Jake Kelly from Adelaide to boost their defensive stocks. The son of 1990 Collingwood premiership player Craig fitted their identified needs perfectly.
(Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)
Trade
Unusually for the Bombers, trade week came around and they didn’t fire a shot, preferring to take their mid-first-rounder into the draft having already given up their second-rounder for Jye Caldwell previously.
They were still subjected to myriad trade predictions, but nothing came of it, even when GWS pocket rocket Ian ‘Bobby’ Hill requested a trade and nothing could get done, possibly due to Essendon’s persistent courting of Giants players.
Draft
In the draft, the Bombers held onto their prized early pick and got Ben Hobbs, one of three first-round picks to come from the Greater Western Victoria Rebels. He is an inside midfielder.
Alastair Lord became the fifth recent South Australian to be recruited to the Hangar, identified as a zippy small defender. After missing a lot of footy through injury, he will take some time to develop, being slight and inexperienced at senior level.
(Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)
The Bombers again went to Richmond’s VFL stocks, taking mature ager Garrett McDonagh late in the third round, adding to the shallow age profile of over-25s and providing another option down back.
Rookie draft
The Bombers once again went after another club’s tied player, this time taking Giants academy prospect Patrick Voss, who went unwanted by GWS after spending his year at Wesley College playing for Oakleigh Chargers.
The verdict
Essendon lost some experience and depth to delisting and retirement, although bringing in mature players in the rookie drafts plus taking 110-gamer Kelly in free agency makes for a nice balance as the younger recruits may need considerable time to develop.
Ben Hobbs is a highly rated inside midfielder regarded as one of the most AFL-ready mids in the draft, so if they can find room for him in the best 22 then he will not be a weak link.
Alastair Lord is a speedy, elusive small-bodied defender who will take some time to develop, but could be part of the solution to the Bombers’ back-six issues.
Garrett McDonagh may be a ready-made answer to filling in as a defensive midfielder or as a small defender, or he could just be a solid depth player.
Patrick Voss is a tall who comes into what is probably the biggest group of talls, definitely the youngest, so his versatility to go forward and back is an asset.
Alec Waterman proved the faith shown in him by finally breaking out as an AFL forward, which will be interesting to see if he can back up his season and then hold his place.
(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Kaine Baldwin redshirted in 2021, but expect him to hit the field this season with something to prove after two ACL reconstructions and being overlooked by every club in the 2020 draft.
Sam Durham made the most of his opportunities after winning a list spot in the mid-season rookie draft, so after a proper pre-season he will look to go to another level.
The outgoing players included some inevitable exits and some harsh list management, with some club stalwarts leaving a large experience hole and the depth players aren’t easily replaced with VFL talent.
The washouts of Cahill and Johnson are interesting because neither had a problem getting picked up by other clubs, albeit on VFL lists, while losing Mosquito to AFL level football is a sad story in itself.
The Bombers have again gone into the off-season with places on their list that remain open. Whether they fill them in the pre-season or the mid-season remains to be seen. However, they do have several players training with them over summer who could earn a rookie spot.
Final word
Essendon are possibly two seasons ahead of schedule, so having almost 20 per cent of their list turned over and no certainty about Michael Hurley’s return to football is either a recipe for disaster or just the fillip coach Ben Rutten needs to return to the promised land.
The Bombers are the competition’s enigma. They make the finals, only to get eliminated. They are aggressive in the trade period, only to this year end up to outward eyes as inactive. They play attacking football while leaking in defence.
Perhaps the best way to encapsulate this team is to acknowledge that they have finally come through their self-inflicted crisis and appear to be arrow up.
Emma Brighton
Guest
Essendon actually defeated the runner's up. And they may have done it twice but for the Tasmanian weather and an inability to play in the wet. They were all over the Dogs in the first half of the Elimination Final then the rain set in.
Emma Brighton
Guest
I think you're wrong about Alastair Lord. Seeing him up close he has a solid frame, there are huge wraps on him around the club and I expect him to debut this season as a small forward.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Why would Thom end his final article on the Bombers l presume it’s a nail in the coffin so to speak for beloved bomber fans :laughing:
Atavistic
Roar Rookie
I agree with Teeko. Hobbs is very competitive and we need a contested ball-winner. Melbourne and Western Bulldogs were 1 and 2 for contested possessions in 2021, so we need to bridge that gap.
David
Guest
3rd last round beat the western Bulldogs by 20pts... And week after lost to Melbourne by 9pts.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
What you are describing could just as well be the Bulldogs side from 2016 or Carlton for the past 3 years. Middle 6 is firmly in the Bombers' wheelhouse, but the difference between 7th and 12th might come down winning or losing the close ones. I think these kids have had a taste of what success looks like and they'll be much better for it. I do wonder if Truck isn't throwing the baby out with the bathwater by cutting stalwarts like Marty Gleeson and Dylan Clarke when they still have 2 rookie spots. In fact, they might even take Clarke in SSP
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
I think it is fairer to say that there was a clear top 5 and by sneaking into 8th and having to play a team that had been top 4 all year was never going to be pretty. I might add that having a bye week after round 23 might have changed the complexion of the game if not the outcome. The young Bombers had nothing left to give, while the Bulldogs were resurgent. But you may be right. I reckon with this fixture the Bombers either need to step up or they will slightly regress. However, the thing about winning is that it is habit forming.
Aransan
Roar Rookie
Waiting on tests for a couple of others present. Another positive and my wife and I will get tested. January 10 for vaccinating 5 to 11yo? Yes, I suspect children are spreaders but of course believing what you want to believe so you do nothing has been a feature from those who should have leading us. Yes, Omicron is milder at the individual level but it is so infectious, including of those already vaccinated, that we just don’t know if the combination is going to overwhelm our hospitals. Very easy just to focus on what suits your agenda.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Popped it out due to insomnia. Should drop later today or overnight.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
I think the Bombers are hoping that Bryan develops his forward craft. The suns found out this year what happens when you run out of rucks and I think Bryan is great security
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Ned Moyle also came through the Oakleigh program with Rowell and Anderson. This year's MSRD was an anomaly because so many of the players taken were Victorians unsighted in 2020 and in an ordinary year they'd have been taken in the draft. If Jacob Edwards had entered the 2021 draft would he have been a top 10 pick? I think so. Ned Moyle may not have made it out of the first round given the appetite for ruckmen.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Sorry to hear, Aransan. I hope the Xmas Day lunch doesn't become a cluster. I will be taking my 10yo daughter for vaccination ASAP. I believe kids have been the superspreaders all along, given they are most often asymptomatic. If kids are usually superspreaders of viruses due to their proximity and lack of hygiene, why wouldn't they be spreading Covid (contrary to the asinine contention of politicians early doors who were saying that kids don't get it).
George13
Guest
Too bad for Bryan. He missed out on the opportunity to join up-and-coming team :-) I was pretty keen on Bryan joining Rowell and Anderson at that time. I would expect Draper to be #1 ruck for a long time, so could Bryan eventually leave for more opportunity? Suns now got Moyle who looks promising, already 100kg while 205cm and also Andrew even further down the track. There is also Conroy given next year to prove himself or be de-listed.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Yeah I think they've made the right call to defer all voluntary procedures but there is a loose definition. I think Perrottet made a huge mistake to completely remove all restrictions and he twiddled his thumbs bringing them back in I don't have a good grip on the stats in other states but its getting ugly in new south wales the number of hospitalisations has doubled this week and we only have 22,000 hospital beds across the entire state and now you're right Queensland and South Australia are copping it because of our hubris as well.
Aransan
Roar Rookie
There is a lot of uncertainty about how tall 18yo players will develop, some gems can be found late in the draft like Hooker but many will prove that they are not up to standard — it just takes longer to find out. No doubt there will be a significant culling of players within this tall group which will play out in the next year or two. This is a necessary part of developing future key position players.
Aransan
Roar Rookie
My belief is that the number of infections will sky rocket to the extent that this virus will burn itself out like it is doing in South Africa. The potential problem is the ability of the hospitals to cope in the meantime. Hospitals are overstretched at the best of times, the influx of preventable cases (especially of the unvaccinated) will mean that others will have to have their treatments deferred. There is a limit to icu beds too and infected people are so much harder to treat with all the extra precautions required. This may all be largely behind us by the start of the season but there will be much carnage until then.
Teeko
Roar Rookie
The next step doesn't have to happen immediately. They are still a relatively young and inexperienced side. They have a lot of players that have played under 50 games, such as Hind(43) Snelling(42) Draper(21) Cox(20) Perkins(20) Jones(16) Caldwell(14) Durham(7). Laverde and Stewart just played their first seasons in defense too. So the best 22 has plenty of development left in it. That may not happen immediately, as their young tall players like Harrison Jones, Reid, Cox etc. will take time. Contested ball winning was a weakness, and their young inside mids like Caldwell, Perkins, Hobbs etc. are pretty raw. Essendon are at least a couple of seasons away from really challenging. Essendon started the season very poorly (two wins from the first eight games) and they also lost four games by 7 points or less, and a couple of other close ones. They are tracking really well for their stage of development. They might go backwards next season as there are a lot of mid table teams chasing a finals spot, but overall the list is looking good and has a lot of potential.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Yep perrottet is a coward and there were 21 000 cases today. Scomo is riding perrottet hard because if he loses his seat than frydenburg, Dutton and scomo will all be out of the job. But I think the fact that COVID is ripping through the population then we will need to start examining what we can do for the next AFL season particularly given the infectiousness of this variant.
Aransan
Roar Rookie
I have just received word from my younger brother that his wife has tested positive, my wife and I were at a family gathering at their house on Xmas day. We don’t have symptoms and we have had the booster so are not concerned for ourselves. Everybody at the gathering was double vaccinated except the 6yo grandchild. The infections in Victoria in recent months have come from NSW and are now spreading through Queensland and South Australia, so the premature lifting of restrictions in NSW (which had to be reversed, but it was too late) is now affecting the rest of Australia. The lack of leadership on the wearing of masks is unbelievable.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
the Suns also made a god father offer for Bryan who was the tap ruckman to Noah Anderson and Matt Rowell at the Oakleigh chargers though knowing Adrian Doddoro he would've asked for two first round picks plus Ben King