In retrospect,the whole Worsfold era was a salvage or holding operation,as the club repaired relationships,mended parlous finances and regained stability and faith. Compromises were inevitable,as the club owed a moral debt to the players whose careers were upended and then to Worsfold for his leadership in a crisis.
But during 2020,the holding pattern reached a dead end. Worsfold,retained due to a sense of obligation (and to avoid reputational blowback) – and against the wishes of Richardson – was still head coach,but his authority was diluted with Ben Rutten slated to take over.
If the Dons have lost short-term ground this year,because senior players have been replaced by kids,what they’ve gained is more valuable:a genuine rebirth and clean slate.
Further,there’s clarity about where they stand and the path forward. Acquiring Saad,Stringer,Smith and Shiel did not deliver them to contention. Had Daniher and Saad stayed,I suspect they would’ve muddled along in mid-table mediocrity for another couple of years.
Now,as a consequence of the exodus,they’re clearer sighted about the path ahead,which will be to blend talented top-10 picks Nik Cox,Archie Perkins and Zach Reid and emerging players Jordan Ridley and Andy McGrath with the mature core.
At season’s end,they should go to the draft again,eschewing the temptation totrade away an early pick for Bulldog Josh Dunkley or someone else of that ilk. That pick can only be traded for a young star.
Cox shapes as a unique talent,a 200-centimetre,dual-sided running player with top-end endurance;if his best position is unclear,he’s definitely a weapon.
Perkins has shown he can play in the past two games,while Reid,from all reports,is a natural key back who will get a chance to show his wares this year.
There’s long-term situations vacant at key forward (thoughHarrison Jones is showing encouraging signs),in defence and a need remains for a large-bodied midfielder,but the key is that the Bombers know that they’re some distance from that 17th flag and can plan accordingly.
The new president Paul Brasher is relatively open about where the club is placed and what lies ahead. A survivor of the board that presided over the drugs/ASADA disaster and ex-chair of PwC’s global board,Brasher has taken an auditor’s approach to Essendon’s football performance,interviewing staff late last year to gain a pellucid picture of what’s wrong before seeking repairs.
The club is also trying to bring fans along for the ride,as evident in the footage on the club website of skipper Dyson Heppell addressing the players after the close loss to the Swans – perhaps a club version of Gorbachev’s glasnost (openness) to follow the perestroika (restructuring).
The change of president,senior coach,football manager (Josh Mahoney) and downshift to a younger list means the Dons can really banish the drugs saga and all the lingering legacies. The financial position is strong enough that the entire focus can be on winning games,which,despite their intentions,didn’t happen in Worsfold’s time.
Rutten may or not prove to be the right coach,and the Bombers may or may not ascend to the top four and flag proximity on his watch. Nothing is guaranteed and the Bombers have disappointed too often over the past decade for one to be too bullish.
Whatever happens,what we can safely say this time is that the Bombers know the score.