THAT ESSENDON FEELING
What can we expect from the 2024 Bombers?
It’s that time of year again.
And already, my guts are churning.
It’s not long until the opener of season 2024 for the Essendon Football Club and a nagging question has begun to creep into my mind once again. How should I feel about the Dons chances this year: optimistic or pessimistic?
It’s one of the most common conundrums for any Essendon fan, now more appropriately described as ‘the long suffering’, to ponder on the eve of another season. It’s become blatantly obvious how the media believes we should feel, given the recent predictions across all media outlets – bleak. But should we? Is that what we should we be expecting in the second year of the latest era for the Bombers?
The Scott Era.
We’ve had the Knights Era, the Hird Era (a moment of silence, please), that brief blink of a moment in 2014 that was the Thompson Era (again, a moment’s silence) and then the Worsfold and Rutten Eras. Those last two really didn’t feel all that different from one another.
They were the Milk Arrowroot of eras. Seemed like a good idea when they were on discount at Coles, but ended up making us pine for a better biscuit … and something to drink.
As we now enter the second campaign of the Scott Era, fans want to feel upbeat and hopeful, but it’s impossible not to feel unsettled by what we have experienced over the past 12 months. It’s enough to potentially give in to the prevailing belief that we aren’t any good, or at the very least, wildly unreliable.
Early 2023 low expectations led into impressive football – oh there’s that optimistic feeling – only to be bundled out of contention in spectacular fashion. A horrific tumble out of the Top 8, amplified by our final two losses of the season: a 126pt loss to the Giants and a 70pt loss to the Pies.
Thinking about those results makes me question my decision to allow my membership to rollover again. And now with a few months between us and those losses, I’m still only 50/50 on my decision.
But the post-season gave us a few moments to hope for better. The acquisition of a few solid names like Xavier Duursma made many of us hum quiet satisfaction. Nabbing Ben McKay was an even bigger hum, some even smiled a little. But, we are a scarred bunch.
Optimism feels booby-trapped.
It’s easier to be pessimistic and be pleasantly surprised. But that too, has been in short supply.
For most of us, the Dons have been a constant source of frustration. A tease. A club that so often has shown glimpses of what could be possible, only to fumble the chance and tumble back into the doldrums of mediocrity. It’s like a high-school teacher talking to hopeful parents about their kid at end-of-year interviews, ‘he’s got the potential for potential.’
Essendon is our underperforming child that we love rain, hail or shine. Though, it’s been pretty bloody wet for a while now and as bad as it is to say, we would love them just that little bit more if there was a touch more shine in our days. And as crazy as it sounds to say, the skies do seem to be looking a little brighter – the team looks good.
Ridley, Merrett, Redman, Draper, McKay, Martin, Langford, Parish, Caldwell, Stringer – these are good players, some even verging on great (if only from time-to-time). But after the recent practice match losses to St Kilda and Geelong, that sentiment seems resigned to looking good on paper, exclusively. We all know not to look too far into pre-season form, but the Bombers don’t enjoy the luxury of being off their game with their fans, or the media. Collingwood lose to North Melbourne, no one believes that it’s an actual representation of their quality – nor the Kangaroos.
A forgettable outings down at RSEA Park.
But an Essendon blowout to the Saints and a late fadeout to the Cats? For many a weary fan and critical reporter, it reflects a failure to remedy problems and a frightening preview of the season to come. If practice matches mean little, ask Tim Watson what he thought about the Bombers showing down at RSEA Park.
So, with the club’s first outing against Hawthorn looming let’s pose some questions to ourselves …
Do we think the Dons will play finals?
Do we think we can upset some pretty good teams?
(Please be Carlton, dear god let it be Carlton)
And despite pre-season outings, do we think we’ll see a different Essendon from years gone by?
This footy club of ours has been going through the same cycle for years, taking every easy route out of trouble in the hopes that all that cursed the club would be remedied with a quick fix, rather than an exhaustive yet measured one. Now, for the first time in my adult life supporting the club, it truly feels like Essendon has said enough. Let’s do this right.
Emphasis on the word said.
Because, let’s be real. This club yaps plenty but has almost zero evidence of doing anything real, anything substantial. Long-lasting. This latest era has brought some interesting changes off-field, but we are yet to see anything truly change on it. Will 2024 be the year?
We are creeping towards our first match-up against the Hawks and it’s hard for the optimist deep inside not to think, ‘I reckon we’ll roll these bastards.’
So maybe … just perhaps … after twenty long rainy years, the Essendon Football Club can surprise us and prove they are ready to shine. And even if it is only a little bit, it’s a start.
Maybe I’m just feeling optimistic.
Maybe I’m being delusional.
Probably both.
Go Planes.