Essendon players say an “urgency” has driven their pre-season after ending the 2023 campaign with coach Brad Scott’s stinging message ringing in their ears.
After capitulating in the final six rounds of last season, blighted by mammoth defeats to Greater Western Sydney and Collingwood, Scott declared the Bombers had to take “extraordinary measures” to lift themselves out of mediocrity.
“In a perverse way, the players leave with a sick feeling in their stomach, and that should drive their off-season,” said Scott after completing his first campaign as Essendon coach.
The proud club’s drought since winning a final has extended into a 20th year, something the players are desperate to rectify.
“I noticed it in the off-season that the mentality amongst the group has shifted,” Bombers midfielder Will Setterfield told AAP.
“There’s a real drive, a sense of urgency from the group that we want to get things rolling and really buy in.
“We want to make the footy club a better place in terms of getting it back to the successful club it was.
“There’s been a really strong drive, not just the players but all the staff and coaches.”
About 15 players embarked on a self-funded trip to a high-altitude training camp in Arizona in preparation for 2024.
Even recruit Jade Gresham joined his new teammates in the United States – just a week after being traded to the Bombers.
Essendon midfielder-forward Jye Caldwell was among those who got to work with Nic Hill – a high-performance specialist who has trained NFL megastars including Odell Beckham Jr and Saquon Barkley.
“It was just a different type of training,” Caldwell told AAP.
“We hardly ran aerobically, it was more sprints and change of direction stuff, which I hadn’t really done much of before.
“All the American sports are power, muscle-based so I took a lot of things out of that.”
Essendon were smashed in February’s match simulation against St Kilda, and lost a close clash with Geelong in their final practice hit-out.
The Bombers will get their 2024 campaign underway against Hawthorn in front of an expected 80,000 fans at the MCG on Saturday.
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
hawks have some good young players, so will be interesting to see who wins this epic clash
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Much as it pains me to admit hawks have better forward structures and midfield than the bombers do at the moment. I think they’ll be a bit of a wildcard team, I don’t expect they’ll make the eight but they will surprise some unsuspecting teams like the bombers
dargerovitch
Roar Rookie
I'm worried but hoping too , but for an unlikely Hawthorn win , lol.
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
yes, I am worried, but hoping.
Macca
Roar Rookie
The worry for the bombers is that they can improve and still not make finals. Last weekends results would suggest that there aren’t a lot of finals spots open
Macca
Roar Rookie
If you don’t you are in real trouble
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
The AFL has set up an incredibly biased fixture in my opinion. The bombers have 3 interstate trips in their first half a dozen rounds, they play multiple presumptive top eight and even top four sides it is a brutal start for them
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
I am not optimistic about this year for the bombers. We don’t seem to have fixed our problems with transition defence. We also have a glut of similar sorts in the midfield, an important aspect to the best midfields is having players who can play multiple positions and despite pushing Hobbs and Caldwell to the half forward flank they’re not forwards they’re midfielders
Chanon
Roar Rookie
It’s tough for a bomber fan. If they win against hawthorn it drives hope if they lose it creates a sense of disbelief. For any club losing the first 2 games of the season is a de.th knell to make the finals at years end.
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
would be great if we can open with a win against hawks