Essendon must reunite Cale Hooker and Michael Hurley on the backline, writes Mark Robinson

CALE Hooker is a better backman than forward and clearly Essendon is a better team with Hooker in defence. The time is right for the Bombers to make the switch, writes MARK ROBINSON.

Cale Hooker celebrates a goal in his return match. Picture: George Salpigtidis

MICHAEL Hurley made centre half-back in Matthew Lloyd’s midyear All-Australian.

Very few people would disagree.

Of the returning Bombers, Hurley, after a scratchy first few rounds, has reignited a career that was once likened in progress to Alex Rance.

In fact, Rance and Hurley filled the key back roles in the 2015 All-Australian team and are on track to repeat in 2017.

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Essendon’s other All-Australian defender Cale Hooker, who was acknowledged in 2014, has returned from his suspension a different player.

Firstly, he had a pre-season stalled by injury and, secondly, he’s being asked to play forward.

As Essendon continues to shape its team, it’s almost time coach John Worsfold returned Hooker to defence and with Hurley, get the band back together.

They complement each other so well.

Cale Hooker has played as a forward since his return to Essendon. Picture: AAP Images

Hurley is the Lion on patrol and Hooker is the consummate reader of the play, hence his standing as one of the best intercept marks in the competition.

A backline of Hurley, Hooker, Kelly, McGrath, Baguley, Ambrose, and Irish project player Conor McKenna rotating from the bench shapes as Essendon’s preferred starting line-up.

That means Dea, Hartley and Brown are out, while Marty Gleeson still hasn’t cemented himself.

The smalls will come and go as flexibility is required, but the pillars of Hurley and Hooker must be reunited with Ambrose to take the third tall.

Clearly, Hooker is a better backman than forward and clearly Essendon is a better team with Hooker in defence.

For a time, Hooker slotted in behind the ball in the win over Geelong and straightaway there was a sense of reassurance in the back half

The counter argument to Hooker in defence is Worsfold needs Hooker to play deep forward, which allows Joe Daniher to play up the ground.

That Daniher is no longer a full-forward and is a roaming, frightening semi-version of Buddy Franklin when outside 50m, means Hooker has had to play the stay-at-home forward.

He does it OK. He competes, he blocks, he draws a top-liner and is strong enough to stand under the dump kick time and again. He has also kicked 14 goals in eight games. They’re not huge numbers, but coaches often say it’s more about competing than kicking goals.

Still, this bloke is an All Australian defender being used in foreign territory, much like Geelong’s Harry Taylor. Taylor kicked five on Friday night and maybe five is beckoning for Hooker.

A Hooker move is more appealing after James Stewart kicked three goals on debut against the Cats.

He took only three marks and is less robust than Hooker, but if the son of Collingwood’s Craig — he was overlooked twice by the Magpies — can compete in the air, then Hooker’s absence might not be so profound.

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At a guess, the Bombers are probably planning to play Daniher, Aaron Francis and one of either Stewart (196cm) or Bellchambers (202cm) as the three tall forwards, complemented by All-Australian smokey Orazio Fantasia, McDonald-Tipungwuti and Green. If Francis and Stewart stand up, they may dump the third tall and go with another small, maybe a resting midfielder and really scare the opposition defence with pace and smarts.

Absolutely the Hooker back-to-the-future plan would also give coverage to Essendon’s flailing midfield.

The Bombers rank 16th for inside 50s (ave 47) and are only ahead of a defensively minded Carlton (46.6) and developing Brisbane (45.9).

Michael Hurley and Cale Hooker side-by-side at Essendon’s photo day. Picture: Kylie Else

Yet they kick a goal 28 per cent of the time which ranks them third.

So, they are poor in terms of getting the ball in, but when they do, they are potent.

Worryingly, they are conceding 59 entries and averaging 98 points against.

That’s why a Hooker-Hurley combo is crucial to help a midfield getting beaten at stoppages and clearance and work rate.

There’s the message for the Essendon mids and midfield coaches: Lift.

The Bombers are an exciting, youngish team sill trying to find its best structure with the suspended players back in the mix.

While Hurley and Hooker get a tick, not all of the 10 players who missed last year are likely to be given senior-game time.

Colyer is a good player and Myers, because of his tough inside game and penetrating kick are in the team, while Watson and Heppell, who seem to be out of rhythm, will get better as they find that rhythm in an ever increasing speed game.

Before their suspensions, Cale Hooker and Michael Hurley team up on the backline.

That Worsfold doesn’t go with tagger means Heath Hocking will stay in the VFL, at the moment McKenna appears to have the nod over Stanton (he will play in the VFL again this weekend) and Ben Howlett has been tipped out because of the three small forwards and, anyway, if he’s in the team the Bombers are too one-paced in the midfield.

Worsfold has preferred Matthew Leuenberger in the ruck, but it wouldn’t surprise if he gave Shaun McKernan another run simply because McKernan gives more around the ground and his game in Round 1 was the best performance by an Essendon ruckman this year.

They are a work in progress the Bombers and their recent positive progress should allow Hooker to resume his rightful place as a pillar of the backline.

Dare say Hurley would love the gang back together, if only to give him a chop out while the midfield collectively continues to stink it up.