It’s a scenario that the Bombers,themselves,did not envisage,with their new president Paul Brasher having - quite shrewdly - talked this season down in the short-term as one designated for “development”.
Today,there’s a slightly giddy optimism about the Dons,who have turned the worries of the 2020 post-season and March 2021 into a silver linings playbook.
The most striking feature of Essendon in 2021 has been that events that looked like setbacks - or even crises - have actually benefited the team and club.
Take Shiel’s knee injury. When he went down,along with Caldwell - a third year ex-Giant with a strong body - many of us wondered how they’d field a competitive midfield.
But the absence opened up a permanent slot in the centre square for Darcy Parish,hitherto a proficient,but small and not overly fast midfielder who’d never threatened A-grade stature.
Parish,as we know,has been among the most improved players in the competition,adding outside run to his ball-winning talents,by dint of getting fitter - and opportunity. Today,he has taken best afield honours in perhaps five games,including the Anzac Day and Dreamtime clashes.
No one at Essendon is worried about out-of-contract Parish leaving,either. Why would he?
Saad and McKenna’s exits meant they were without two serious half-backs with leg speed. Enter Nick Hind,who’d played VFL with the Bombers,and been acquired from the Saints at Dimmeys’ rates - a pair of fourth round picks that weren’t utilised.
Hind isn’t better than Saad,but he’s providing much of the output for far fewer dollars than the latter would have cost. The Dons received a top 10 pick for Saad,which was turned into Zach Reid,a prospective long-term key position fixture.
Joe Daniher,meanwhile,left a veritable crater in the forward line by moving to Brisbane.
Up stepped Harrison Jones,a stripling key forward from Essendon’s heartland,who’s grasped the chance to show his wares. Had Daniher stayed - and stayed on the park - Jones would’ve spent much of the season in the VFL.
The same applies to Jayden Laverde,who’s cemented a spot down back in his seventh season. Laverde was trialled in defence due to the situations vacant created by Hurley’s ailment and Hooker’s shift forward,where he’s provided an experienced target.
Heppell,whose body had left him down in 2019 and 2020 and couldn’t be counted on in the middle,was shifted to half-back to stabilise the defence. The result is another unexpected bounty for the Bombers.
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Nik Cox and Archie Perkins have outstripped expectations for first-year draftees and their presence in the 22 - with Jones,Hind and others - has given the long-dormant Bombers a sense of rebirth.
Rather than meandering in the middle of the ladder with a more mature team that wouldn’t cut it as a flag contender,the Bombers have given themselves clarity:forced into a rebuild,they know the path ahead.
The danger,as with any big club that picks up steam,is that they’ll get ahead of themselves and assume that the restoration is nigh,when there’s still list pruning,hard calls and maturation required.
Rutten’s silver linings playbook has had a touch of Sheedy,in that necessity has been the mother of reinvention. By exceeding budget on the field,the new coach also has deposited a few credits in the bank. And he will need them at some point.
It’s easier to experiment,and to make good of misfortune when you’re not considered a contender,and have the luxury of losing honourably and not being judged,as Carlton have,on a finals-or-bust dividing line.
Enjoy the free ride this year,Bomber fans. From bad things,better things have grown. The harder judgement days lie ahead.
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