Opinion
Essendon skipper Dyson Heppell’s extraordinary belief that the Bombers can bounce back from their dire start to the season and play finals is as audacious as the unpredictability that surrounds 2022.
Apart from his rather pompous claim, there’s little to back his belief from the group who are a shadow of the great promise from last year.
Essendon have slumped to the worst in all aspects as the stat’s glaringly leap out and confront them, meaning they have to do a 360 degree turnaround to bring joy to their long suffering fans.
Coach Ben Rutten appears to have run out of reasons or ideas about the downward spiral apart from lamenting about injuries to key players. But this is debatable, considering the recent recruitments which suggested depth from where they could draw from.
Up against Collingwood on ANZAC day, there is a premonition they will rise to the spirit of the day and deliver the unthinkable or resign themselves to the predictable thrashing punters believe.
My belief is that too much meddling with team structure which was a success last season may be one of the crucial elements that has changed their style of play.
Positional play among a young group needs careful tampering and not extreme changes, particularly among young inexperienced men.
Essendon needs Jake Stringer, Zac Merret and Anthony McDonald Tippengwutti back to ignite the spark in the midfield. This then creates the ripple effect that puts less strain on their defence which has been sorely wanting under incessant pressure from teams that have wrested away centre clearances from them in the past few weeks.
The game against the Pies will be pivotal to Essendon’s belief they are finals material.
ANZAC day will give them clarity about the road ahead.
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