AFL 2021: How former Bombers could overshadow Essendon’s Round 1 clash with Hawthorn

It could be a tough opening round for Dons fans with ex-stars set to have big impacts at their new clubs. Just how good would Essendon be with them back?

It will be the elephant in Essendon lounge rooms on Saturday night.

For a fan base that has been through the ringer in recent years, there is a bit to look forward to when the overhauled Bombers step out against a regenerating Hawthorn at Marvel Stadium.

They’re two teams who are trying to fast-track rebuilds and, for the red and black, there is considerable excitement around new faces Nik Cox, Jye Caldwell, Harrison Jones and Peter Wright.

The 199cm Cox has sublime athleticism and fellow top-10 picks Archie Perkins and Zach Reid might only be one month or so away from joining them in the senior side.

But it is when Essendon fans flip to the other channel on Saturday night, or indeed ask a mate what’s happening up at the Gabba, that stomachs could really turn.

After almost three years out of the game, Joe Daniher hasn’t missed a beat at Brisbane this summer and, from all reports in the north, the former Essendon spearhead is back jumping at the footy like it’s 2017 again.

And smiling, too.

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Joe Daniher has enjoyed an uninterrupted pre-season at the Lions. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

But he battled injury in his last few seasons at Essendon. Picture: Michael Klein

There’s no such groin soreness, anymore.

Whether that is because of the gurus at Brisbane, who have one of the best medical records in the competition in recent years, or the fruits of a painstaking recovery at Tullamarine, may perhaps never be known.

But the reality of the Essendon player departures could bite down hard this weekend, and Adam Saad’s navy blue debut underlined what Carlton people have been saying for months and that is he is already one of their most important players.

Across the border, Port Adelaide is thrilled with the new weaponry it has in Orazio Fantasia, who booted three goals from six scoring shots in the AAMI Community Series game.

The Power think he can become an All-Australian contender again, after overcoming his injury niggles over summer.

RELATED: DANIHER OPENS UP ON WHY HE LEFT ESSENDON

Orazio Fantasia has also hit the ground running at his new club, Port Adelaide. Picture: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

Speaking of running, that’s exactly what Adam Saad did for Carlton on Thursday night. Picture: Michael Klein

Even Shaun McKernan played out of his skin for the Saints against Carlton after getting delisted on the back of an average year last season.

But if you add the big three back into the mix fully-fit, one wonders whether Essendon would be a finals contender instead of a bottom-four side as many believe in 2021.

Why did they leave again? Because Essendon didn’t get its backyard in order in the hub and a clash of coaching philosophies cost it.

And the players who thought they would get the most out of themselves elsewhere.

The club has done well to sell a message around the Ben Rutten take over this year but there is a strong view it should have happened 12 months earlier – for 2020 was a mighty backward step.

Maybe the Bombers didn’t want to make the tough and expensive call on John Worsfold a year early.

They moved on Dan Richardson as footy manager, too – not that he was ever going to have the final say on the coach – and now the slate has been wiped clean in the footy department.

Essendon’s three top-10 draft picks Zach Reid, Archie Perkins and Nik Cox are the future f the club. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos.

A new era begins.

Daniel Giansiracusa is the man who will help knit together some of the holes that have appeared in the Essendon team fabric in recent years.

And the rewards could be significant if star midfielder Zach Merrett stays and Western Bulldog Josh Dunkley arrives at season’s end, helping turn the tide on those player departures from last year.

Dunkley is absolutely still on the hook.

Of course, there remains some concerns over the durability of departed duo Daniher and Fantasia.

But, if they play full seasons and combine for something up near 100 goals, they will be tough losses for the Bombers who made the best of a bad situation ending up with three top-10 selections in the 2020 draft.

Cleary, the Michael Hurley-Cale Hooker-Dyson Heppell premiership window has closed, and now it’s time for a new chapter.

The Bombers are hoping for a Port Adelaide-style rebuild on the run, and a quick bounce, rather than a long stint at the bottom.

But one thing is for certain though, at least for tonight.

While the main event is on at Marvel Stadium, Essendon fans will have an anxious interest in how Joe goes at the Gabba.