Brad Scott is building something special at Essendon, Bombers fans... if you just stay patient

As bitter as a pill as it may be to swallow, Brad Scott preaching patience is exactly what will lead to Essendon’s sustained finals run in the future.

In an interview before the Bombers’ opening round clash against Hawthorn, the coach, in his second year in charge of the club, highlighted the importance of being patient and implementing strong structures and culture in order to create a successful environment.

He mentioned the group growing together and its core being around for the next eight years, one that grabbed headlines but is ultimately, an arbitrary number.

It’s extremely easy to criticise Scott and the Bombers – no one knows better than the fans that they’ve not won a final since 2004 and own an average losing margin of 56 points in the six elimination finals they’ve participated in during that time.

Essendon coach Brad Scott. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Yet supporters should come away from reading quotes and listening to Scott with a strong sense of positivity that the club is headed in the right direction, rather than the opposite that some members of the media want to capitalise on.

Richmond was ridiculed for specifically outlining a long-term strategy that would sit multiple expected premierships in a decade-long plan – that played out perfectly.

The Lions won only a handful of games in 2018 and have been flag contenders ever since. Many were predicting the Giants to finish in the bottom four at the start of 2023. They’re premiership favourites in 2024.

The ultimate reality in our competition is that winning a premiership cannot be the sole goal of a club. Isolating that destination and making it the focal point often leads to a kamikaze approach that results in short-term decisions being made.

As Scott rightly pointed out, it’s about culture and structure. Success is built on consistency, not overreactions.
2024 is a season designed to improve defensively for Scott and his Bombers.

They brought in Ben McKay and Zach Reid is finally fit enough to get a good run at it. He has the potential to be one of the best defenders in the league.

The move of Nic Martin to half back provides a level of dynamism by foot and with running patterns. Jordan Ridley is perennially underrated but will be absolved of key defensive posts when back from injury which will only help the club aerially. They’ve already got dash and dare from the likes of Mason Redman.

Jordan Ridley suffered a quad injury in Essendon’s pre-season loss to Geelong. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

That McKay/Reid duo will take a little time, but they personify the upside to what patience can bring this club. Some may say they overpaid for the former North Melbourne defender but it’s an investment in the long-term, a willingness to fight through teething problems for the obvious upgrade.

In fact, while bringing in four fresh faces from other clubs may be seen as a move of desperation to try play finals, in practice, it’s a series of moves that act as a buffer to aid with the overall development of talented young players.

In the real world of AFL, a club cannot just play all their talented young players and expect significant, linear development that turns the club into a powerhouse in quick time. That’s just not how it works.

McKay’s been around for a while but is only halfway through his career. He’s younger and quite frankly, much better than those he is replacing.

Todd Goldstein hasn’t been brought in to take Sam Draper’s ruck minutes, or stifle the development of Nick Bryan. The former ‘Roo is a conduit between a strong reserves performance and figuring out what it takes to play the position at senior level. Of course he’ll play AFL minutes, but there’s no more experienced, nor better teacher for a young ruck, than the veteran.

Jade Gresham’s recruitment is the sort of move that assists the Bombers in their offensive play naturally, but has a flow-on effect that will greatly impact guys like Ben Hobbs, Elijah Tsatas, Jye Caldwell and should light a fire under Archie Perkins.

Bombers ruckman Sam Draper. (Photo by Rob Blakers/Getty Images)

The easiest spot to chuck a young player into is the Bermuda triangle that is the half-forward line for those that aren’t equipped to that role. These players will get significant midfield minutes. For a few of them, it’ll get them up to speed a lot quicker. For one of them, it’s make or break time.

Then, there’s Xavier Duursma. A player looking to find his feet himself who has landed at the right club for him. Martin’s moved to defence and Sam Durham is expected to see some more inside midfield time, so the spot is there for him to realise his potential.

That’s four recruits who aren’t designed to move the needle for this club immediately, but to help build a sustainable future for a team that hasn’t tasted any finals success in 20 years.

Already, the Bombers have shown the foundations of change that truly haven’t been seen in a long time at Windy Hill.

We don’t need to rehash past issues, those are wounds that are best left untouched, but it finally seems as though there’s a semblance of stability and reliability off the field, which is more than what can be said for the last decade or so.

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The stench of the past has started to clear out and as such, the messaging and attitude is starting to change. As such, the attitude of the media and those analysing, should start to change.

Because adopting this mentality that Essendon’s 2024 should be defined as “finals or bust” is a really surface-level view on what’s actually going on under Brad Scott’s tutelage, ultimately a mentality bred from ignorance and impatience.

Half the Bombers’ list is under 24 years of age heading into the season. The list has undergone a bit of a makeover in the last couple of years alone, to the point where the enigmatic Jake Stringer is the only player over 28 who’ll be in the club’s best team by season’s end.

Even better is there’s no longer a need to rely on Stringer to get the team over the line. For way too long, it felt as though Essendon stakeholders were holding on to the view he was their answer to Dustin Martin when in reality, he’s the ideal cherry on top when the Bombers are ready.

And that is ultimately, what preaching patience is all about. Teaching the group how to defend properly, educate players in different roles and create an environment that encourages comfortability and development.

Essendon captain Zach Merrett. (Photo by Graham Denholm/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

When it all clicks, the elevation into contention happens quicker than anyone could ever imagine – just ask the Tigers, Lions and Giants.

Brad Scott’s filling in the gaps well and doing it quickly, they’ve got almost every position on the ground occupied by a quality contributor, or a young understudy who’ll get the opportunity to develop.

Now, it’s about realising development is imperfect and for the supporters to embrace it.

The players already have – if they hadn’t, we wouldn’t have seen a bunch of young players go on an altitude camp instead of holidaying in a bid to better themselves.

No, the fake headlines of an “eight-year plan” aren’t a cop-out or disappointment, but rather a refreshing take that will lead to a sustainable future for a club longing for any sort of success.

Waiting just that little bit longer will make it all worth it.

Brad Scott is on the money and Essendon fans will reap the rewards sooner than they think.