The operation of a new-look coaching group under John Worsfold and senior coach in waiting Ben Rutten has the potential to make or break Essendon’s bid to end their long drought of finals wins this season.
The unusual succession plan has been one of many distractions and obstacles the Bombers have faced since last year’s meek elimination final exit.
Joe Daniher wanted to be traded out of the club, Orazio Fantasia explored the possibility, and Daniher’s injury woes have continued.
He went to Ireland for treatment, Conor McKenna went there to deal with homesickness, and captain Dyson Heppell spent a large chunk of the pre-season on the sidelines with a foot injury.
The skipper was one of at least 15 players who had off-season surgery, with Tom Bellchambers (knee), Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (calf), Michael Hurley (shoulder) and Patrick Ambrose (knee) all enduring interrupted summers.
The club has still not put a time frame on Daniher’s return from his groin issue.
There was further consternation when best-and-fairest winner Zach Merrett was left out of the Bombers’ leadership group and Fantasia turned down a role.
It’s been far from an ideal preparation, prompting widespread predictions of more doom and gloom for a club that hasn’t enjoyed any form of September success in the last 15 years.
But Essendon football manager Dan Richardson dismissed the external noise, declaring the Bombers bullish about their prospects this year and beyond.
“We’ve been focused on building the culture and people playing their part in it and working collaboratively and cohesively together,” Richardson said.
“There’s a good feeling around the club and we’ve worked on some aspects of our game that will continue to build a game plan that’s a little bit more consistent and a clearer brand that we can take into the year.
“We’re confident we’re on the right track with that, but you’ve got to focus on what you’re doing each week and each training session to keep improving.”
Off the field, 2000 premiership player Blake Caracella has been lured back to Essendon as a chief lieutenant after successful coaching stints at Richmond, Geelong and Collingwood.
Former Hawthorn fitness guru Sean Murphy has been poached to head up the Bombers’ strength and conditioning in a revamped football department.
“The structure, as much as there’s been a fair bit talked about it, is not completely foreign to John (Worsfold),” Richardson said.
“He’s always been a strong delegator and provides great overseeing management to all the staff.
“Any good coaching group now is about the team and how they work together, not just one or two individuals, but John is still in charge this year.
“Ben and the rest of the assistants … are so far working really well together to teach and coach a game plan that they’re really strongly aligned to and is really clear to the players.”
On the field, 2018 best-and-fairest winner Devon Smith is back after an injury-plagued year and adds depth to a midfield unit brimming with talent.
If they can stay fit, Smith, Merrett, Heppell, Dylan Shiel, Andrew McGrath and Darcy Parish are capable of mixing it with the better teams in the competition.
But the Bombers need to find more goal kickers after delisting Mitch Brown and with Daniher still out.
“We know from the last couple of years that we can play some good footy but we need to try to reduce the gap between our best and our worst,” Richardson said.
“If we can do that and continue to build the culture and cohesion amongst the group … then hopefully we’ll have a good year.”