Mick Malthouse explains why Essendon will win the 2022 AFL premiership

Mick Malthouse says Essendon can win the 2022 premiership on the back of improvement from a host of players, including one star who has learned how he can make the team better.

AFL coaching great Mick Malthouse believes Essendon can bury two decades of pain and celebrate their 150th birthday by winning this year’s AFL premiership.

Nine of the 17 Herald Sun experts selected the Bombers to make the finals for a second successive year, but Malthouse was the only one to tip Ben Rutten’s team to go all the way and consign the “massive kick in the guts” of the sports supplements saga to history.

The Bombers’ haven’t won a finals match in more than 6300 days – since beating Melbourne in the 2004 elimination final.

They haven’t won a flag since their remarkable 2000 triumph, seeing them join Carlton on 16 premierships.

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But Malthouse, who coached premierships at West Coast and Collingwood in 1992, 1994 and 2010, is a student of history who knows footy never stays the same from year to year.

He has predicted the Bombers to be the 2022 bolters, saying the signs he saw in Rutten’s first year as coach and further development on offer convinced him they can drive up the ladder.

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“People forget Melbourne came from ninth in 2020 (to win last year’s flag),” Malthouse explained in the Herald Sun’s 2022 Footy Magazine.

“Essendon made the finals last season and will be close to complete this season.”

The Bombers were competitive early in their elimination final against eventual grand finalists Western Bulldogs before being overrun in the second half.

But Malthouse says a better balance between attack and defence – and a near perfect blend of experience and youth – stands Essendon in great stead heading into this year.

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“I enjoyed the way they played last year,” he said.

“I thought last year they gave up a score to get a score. They were prepared to have 13 or 14 goals kicked against them and they still thought they had the capacity to kick 15 or 16.

“That’s not great tactics. But it was probably what was needed for the team to come to grips with the fact that they needed to defend better and then have the capacity to score.

“That has to be reversed this year. They have got to keep getting scores, but learn to hold sides to lower scores.”

Mick Malthouse says Sam Draper’s aggression is crucial for Essendon.

Jake Stringer stepped up as a midfielder last year.

He said the Bombers’ defence, with the addition of Jake Kelly in the off-season, was a serious asset, with Champion Data detailing they conceded the fifth fewest points from Round 14 onwards.

“They have an adaptable backline who can take talls, smalls and mediums,” he said. “They can take the quicks but also big leading forwards like Tom Hawkins and Josh Kennedy.

“I think their backline is in the top echelon.”

Malthouse cited the continued development of powerful ruckman Sam Draper as a key factor, saying the speedy midfield would derive the benefit of his growing maturity.

Darcy Parish’s emergence has taken the pressure off Zach Merrett.

“I reckon Draper will give them the aggression around the middle they need,” he said.

“(Zach) Merrett got a bit of a battering a year ago about being selfish, but I think he has probably worked out his best rewards will come via a team effort.

“(Darcy) Parish, to me, is an absolute cracker.

“(Dylan) Shiel needs to pick up, but he has the capacity to do it.

“They will have some other little cameos with players. I know (Jake) Stringer will go through there, and maybe (Anthony) McDonald-Tipungwuti when he is fit again.”

The Bombers were fourth in terms of goals kicked last season with Malthouse eager to see them share the load.

“Their forward line is not reliant on a bloke kicking 50 per cent of their score,” he said.

“Every team that wins a premiership needs to have some luck with injury and the same goes for a team like Essendon if they want to compete with the best.

“But if they can hold up, their side is quick and exciting and they can get better defensively.”

“Unlike last year, hopefully they won’t need to kick massive scores to win matches.”

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Originally published as Mick Malthouse explains why Essendon will win the 2022 AFL premiership