The 5 Year Plan: Essendon
The numbers for the players are their approximate ages in 5 years time. Of course, trades, injuries, drafts and unexpected retirements will affect what players are still around in 5 years. But this might be the core of the team when season 2011 starts.
FB M McVeigh 30, K Bradley 25, J Winderlich 26
HB A McPhee 28, S Gumbleton 23, N Lovett-Murray 28
C L Jetta 23, B Stanton 25, R Dyson 25
HF A Lovett 28, P Ryder 23, A Welsh 28
FF A Davey 27, C Johns 26, A Monfries 26
Foll J Laycock 26, T Hislop 23, J Watson 26
bench D Hille 30, C Dempsey 24, J Nash 25, H Slattery 25
Outlook: Hird, Lloyd, Lucas and Fletcher will all be gone by 2011, maybe Sheedy won't be there too. But Essendon will have a solid list then and there will be a good balance of tall players and a competitive midfield. Gumbleton might have been drafted as their centre half forward of the future, but if that is to happen then a couple of big bodies will need to be found for their back line. Ruck depth is something that the Bombers have always had and the ruckmen that Essendon currently have should all be there in 5 years time. The Bombers will have to worry about keeping some of their players away from teams in their home states. All the talls along their future spine are from Western Australia, it will be a difficult task to keep them away from the Eagles and Dockers. But the Bombers are one of the better teams at keeping their interstate players.
FB M McVeigh 30, K Bradley 25, J Winderlich 26
HB A McPhee 28, S Gumbleton 23, N Lovett-Murray 28
C L Jetta 23, B Stanton 25, R Dyson 25
HF A Lovett 28, P Ryder 23, A Welsh 28
FF A Davey 27, C Johns 26, A Monfries 26
Foll J Laycock 26, T Hislop 23, J Watson 26
bench D Hille 30, C Dempsey 24, J Nash 25, H Slattery 25
Outlook: Hird, Lloyd, Lucas and Fletcher will all be gone by 2011, maybe Sheedy won't be there too. But Essendon will have a solid list then and there will be a good balance of tall players and a competitive midfield. Gumbleton might have been drafted as their centre half forward of the future, but if that is to happen then a couple of big bodies will need to be found for their back line. Ruck depth is something that the Bombers have always had and the ruckmen that Essendon currently have should all be there in 5 years time. The Bombers will have to worry about keeping some of their players away from teams in their home states. All the talls along their future spine are from Western Australia, it will be a difficult task to keep them away from the Eagles and Dockers. But the Bombers are one of the better teams at keeping their interstate players.
