Essendon 2017 season review: How Eliza Sewell would fix the Bombers

WITH Jobe Watson, James Kelly and Brent Stanton gone Essendon has money to spend. Who should they go after? Eliza Sewell on how she would fix the Bombers.

Zach Merrett of the Bombers celebrates a goal.

ESSENDON surprised most experts by rising from the wooden spoon to make the finals, then crashed out with a big loss to Sydney. So what do we make of their season?

Eliza Sewell takes a closer look and what the Bomber need to fix to go deeper into September next year.

THE SEASON ROUND UP

From bottom to seventh (eighth after its finals shocker) in one season sounds like a pretty good result. But the 65-point elimination final loss to Sydney was a deflating finish and a reality check.

Zach Merrett continued his brilliant rise, No. 1 draft pick Andrew McGrath delivered and won the Rising Star while All-Australian Joe Daniher showed he has arrived as one of the competition’s most devastating forward targets.

The Bombers dominated off-field after a tumultuous period following the supplements saga. The club has risen again and its supporters have stuck fat with great crowds and high membership numbers.

Zach Merrett had a great year for the Bombers

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THE PROBLEM(S)

The Bombers were inconsistent. Heroic highs (big win over Port Adelaide, great first quarter to topple Geelong, 30 minutes of perfection in Round 14 against the Swans) and languid lows (the worst was the loss to the Lions at Etihad Stadium).

Essendon had no trouble scoring, especially from turnovers, but getting the ball inside 50 was the issue.

Clearance numbers, tackles and hitouts were at the wrong end of the ledger in 2017 and the Bombers were also regarded as a low pressure team in what has become a pressure game.

The team’s defence will need work ahead of 2018.

THE SOLUTION

The new season starts now for the Bombers and they should go hard during the trade period. They’ve lost Jobe Watson, James Kelly and Brent Stanton to retirement so there will be cash to splash. The Bombers haven’t been big players in recent trade periods, but that should change this October.

The lack of inside-50s points to a midfield that needs a bit of a beef up while with Kelly gone a player like McGrath gets the chance to play a key set-up role.

Essendon is in the running to land Bulldog Jake Stringer.

THE TARGET

Premiership Bulldog Jake Stringer is a real chance to end up at Tullamarine. After the Bombers’ early September exit they have netted pick No. 11 in the national draft — which could be enough for the Dogs.

But the Bombers should be chasing hard for GWS Giants star Josh Kelly. A midfield gun is what they need.

And while they’re at it, a raid on the Tigers might pay dividends, too. Anthony Miles is a tough, in-and-under ball winner who can’t get a game in the Richmond seniors, but he’s good enough. He would be very handy at the Bombers. He’s out of contract in October.

THE DREAM

Jobe Watson was a champion, more in the hardworking, blue-collar mould than a dazzler. Josh Kelly is a dazzler, and what a replacement he would be in the midfield. Working with Zach Merrett, the Bombers could possess the two best midfielders under the age of 23.

Kelly’s polish around the ball would deliver the Bombers a clearance win and make Daniher very happy too. Add McGrath and Orazio Fantasia and the Bombers’ future looks so bright.

Josh Kelly would also be a welcomed inclusion at the Bombers

THE COACH

This season was virtually John Worsfold’s first of coaching Essendon. Let’s face it, 2016, missing 10 of the best Bombers because of the supplements scandal, was glorified babysitting.

Worsfold has done a great job rebuilding the side after the reintroduction of the players banned in 2016. He said it would take time for the list to get to know each other, but at times this season the chemistry was clear.

He’s remained cool and calm, a measured man. Contracted for next year and professes to be unfazed by lack of job security beyond 2018 but almost certain to win an extension, possibly over summer.

John Worsfold has done a great job at the Bombers.

GARY BUCKENARA SAYS

Kelly’s teammate Devon Smith would also be ideal. He’s a strong body and an in and under type who has good leg speed and he uses the ball really well.

2018 PREDICTION

5th-9th