SIGNS GOING BOTH WAYS

It’s a small sample size, but after two rounds the Bombers are starting to reveal what kind of team they’re going to be in 2024.

Both performances have had plenty of Essendon fans cheering, smiling, and even cautiously whispering that the year ahead may be better than the pundits predicted. At the same time, however, both performances have provided a frightening reality check and proof that the sins of the past are hard to shake.

The mixed signals coming out of Tullamarine are confusing, if not downright frustrating for fans.

But let’s take this one step at a time and start with a look at some of the more noteworthy individual performances, beginning with the Bombers’ captain and vice-captain.

The pair of Zach Merrett and Andy McGrath have made a strong contribution to the team already in 2024. No one is surprised to hear the phrase, “how good’s Merrett?”, but his efforts on Saturday night to will the Dons over the line almost single-handedly, continues to show why he is so revered at Tullamarine.

McGrath has had his fair share of detractors in the past, and for good reason. The club’s one and only #1 draft pick has at times underwhelmed in a way that causes irritation in a success-starved fan base that expected so much from him. But in his first two games of ‘24, McGrath has racked up 33 and 25 touches, impressing in what seems like a more potent role across the back half. Now this is not to say he’s without error – his disposal at times still requires improvement, but overall, he’s looking more like the player the club expected him to be when drafted in 2016.

Newcomer Jade Gresham is proving to be a real trade win, also. With a strong first outing against the Hawks backed up by an even better performance against the Swans, with 23 disposals and 3.1 in front of goal, Gresham seems the heir-apparent to the small forward void left by McDonald-Tipungwuti.

Now, I could speak about Nic Martin and Archie Perkins improvements, or about Langford’s consistency and even Jake Stringer’s dominance in front of goal (7.2 in two weeks, wow). But I believe Will Setterfield requires some affection.

Will Setterfield’s unselfish brand of football has made the Bombers midfield all the more difficult for opponents to handle.

It was easy for many to forget about Setterfield. After all, he only played a handful of games to start to 2023 season before going down injured, never really regaining a foothold in the campaign. But in those brief appearances, Setterfield played an integral role in the club’s midfield: doing the grunt work, the dull stuff, the glamour-free efforts that gave the likes of Darcy Parish and Merrett the freedom to shine. This output has returned in solid form in 2024, with a combined 53 disposals, 15 tackles and 14 inside-50’s across rounds one and two. He’s the blue-collar midfield that the team has needed for so long, and along with the club’s brigade of mids … things in the centre are looking bright.

In the first two rounds, Essendon has surprised many both inside the club and beyond by excelling in an area of the game they’ve historically struggled at - stoppages.

For the first time in what seems a generation, the Bombers look to have a midfield unit that can take it up to some of the best in the league. Against the Swans, a team that most across the country expect to be doing damage at the pointy end of the season, Essendon was able to take the W across multiple categories.

Clearances were 43-33 in the Dons favour, winning both the centre and general stoppages - all the while losing the hit-outs 35-31.

This success at the stoppage has led to a solid number of inside-50’s and in turn, a strong performance on the scoreboard. Again, it’s only a minute sample size, but two weeks in a row, the Bombers have been able to put up scores of 17.5.107 and 15.11.103. Considering the way Essendon ended 2023, 5.6.36 and 3.13.31 against GWS and the Pies respectively - signs suggest the club may be dangerous in front of the big sticks in 2024.

Again, the season may only be a few weeks old, but there are definitely some signs to get excited about for fans. Unfortunately, there’s plenty to be worried about, also.

All the Bombers faithful want are some wins. Frequently. Host of The Sash, Rob Crawford, said it perfectly in his post-game thoughts on Saturday night, “I hate losing”. Something all those of the red & black can agree has been too often over the past 20 years. Sadly, and despite some positive signs for the future, regular losses don’t appear to be going anywhere anytime soon. Worse still, the reasons behind this miserable and continued trend remain eerily similar to past seasons.

This team simply cannot defend against the transition.

Essendon’s backline remains the club’s biggest issue to address.

Across the first two weekends of footy for the Dons, fans have been left pulling out their hair as they watched opposition players stream freely from their defensive 50, converting those runs into easy inside-50’s and most often, scores. It’s a frightening trend that doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon, leaving fans fearful after every behind and the players looking more like witches’ hats than footballers, when that ball is kicked back into play.

But this is not an isolated issue.

The defence in general continues to be a huge problem, even with the addition of Ben McKay who has proven himself a strong pillar down back. Injuries and suspensions have shown that the Bombers lack quality depth, and that there are passengers aplenty across the backline.

I’m not inclined to pot-shot players for the fun of it, but Jayden Laverde and Dyson Heppell were liabilities down back against Sydney.

Fans had heard rumblings that something was off with Laverde in the pre-season, the word ‘standards’ had been bandied around (as it has with far too many players over the last few seasons). So when news came of his exclusion from the club’s first outing against the Hawks, alarm bells started to ring. Against the Swans, his performance was such that it’s hard not to think those rumblings will continue.

Then there’s Heppell. The former skipper once again gathered a lot of the ball, but did little with it, and right now feels like more of a problem than a solution. And at that end of the ground, this Bombers outfit can scarcely afford another problem.

Because for all the club’s successes in the forward line over the past two weeks, the failures down back are mounting already - giving up scores of 11.17.83 and 19.17.131.

That’s 64 scoring shots in eight quarters of footy.

That is unsustainable football.

So, after two rounds of footy the Essendon Football Club has found itself at 1-1. Most fans expected it. But what should we expect on Easter Saturday against a brewing St Kilda outfit? Mason Redman’s return will provide some stability down back, while the absence of Peter Wright up front will be the cause of some issues, likely forcing Langford to return to last season’s role taking the #1 defender.

And will Parish finally be ready?

Who knows.

The pessimist in me says that we’re going to be run off the park by a side who clipped Collingwood’s wings – but the optimist in me says that our improvements are greater than our deficits. And a win on Easter Saturday over the Saints, isn’t a fantasy.

There are signs pointing in both directions.

Go Planes.