Essendon Bombers 2016 season report card

JUST three wins and a wooden spoon, but does Essendon get a pass or fail for season 2016 — and what do they need to climb back up the ladder? See our experts’ verdict and have your say.

Essendon players enjoy their win against Melbourne. Picture: Alex Coppel

THE 2016 season loomed as a horror show for the Bombers after 12 of their stars were handed anti-doping bans.

But while they finished the season at the foot of the ladder with three wins, there have been plenty of positives.

A standout year from Zach Merrett, a career-best haul from Joe Daniher (43 goals) and the emergence of youngsters Darcy Parish, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Jake Long, Jayden Laverde and Aaron Francis have shown there is plenty of upside.

2016 SNAPSHOT

WINS: 3

LOSSES: 19

DRAWS: 0

LADDER POSITION: 18th

PERCENTAGE: 61.00%

LAST YEAR: 15th (down three spots)

DID WE GET IT RIGHT? SCROLL DOWN TO VOTE AND HAVE YOUR SAY

WHAT WENT RIGHT

From a football sense, the Bombers were able to blood their talented draftees - led by Darcy Parish and Aaron Francis - while discovering a couple of gems in the form of Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and Michael Hartley. The club would also be thrilled by the development of young leader Zach Merrett. Off the field the recommitment of the majority of banned Bombers - including captain-in-waiting Dyson Heppell and Michael Hurley - was a major step forward, while the impact of John Worsfold in his first year as coach cannot be underestimated.

WHAT WENT WRONG

To steal a line from Franklin Roosevelt, January 12, 2016 will be remembered as “a date which will live in infamy” (in a football sense, anyway). The banning of 34 current and former Bombers sent a shockwave through the footballing world and ended the club’s 2016 on-field hopes instantly. Hurley’s signing is a huge win for the club but there are still question marks lingering over captain Jobe Watson while Michael Hibberd has announced he wants to be traded to Melbourne.

RECRUITING DEPT REVIEW

2015 draft picks: Darcy Parish (5), Aaron Francis (6), Alex Morgan (29), Mason Redman (30), Mitch Brown (54), Yestin Eades (64), Michael Hartley (68), Gach Nyuon (rookie), Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (rookie), Will Hams (rookie), Tom Wallis (rookie)

Trade/free agent acquisitions: Craig Bird (Sydney), Matthew Leuenberger (Brisbane)

Big ticks wherever you look. A much-needed injection of young talent with Parish and Francis both showing they’ll be long-term stars. Mitch Brown and Michael Hartley were shrewd selections with late picks and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti came off the rookie list. If ever there was a year to nail your draft, this was it. Even the addition of injury-prone ruckman Matthew Leuenberger was a positive with the former Lion playing 19 games, the most he’s managed since 2010. Add this year’s No.1 draft pick and potentially a star recruit with the No.1 pre-season draft pick and the Bombers’ list is looking very healthy.

Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti was one of the feel-good stories of 2016. Picture: George Salpigtidis

HIGH AND LOW

Well, there was only three wins and the Bombers saved the best until last. Facing arch-rival Carlton, the Bombers put on a scintillating display of quick ball movement and goalscoring power. A great way to end a tough year. The win against Melbourne wasn’t nearly as pretty, but that didn’t dampen the joy on Darcy Parish’s face when he kicked the game-winning goal. A Round 13 game against GWS ended up being a loss but the performance earnt a standing ovation from fans at Etihad Stadium. In terms of individual moments, Joe Daniher’s skyscraper mark against the Saints in Round 16 had the Bomber fans out of their seats. On the field, the Bombers’ worst loss of the year from a scoreline point of view was Round 12 against Hawthorn (108 point). Daniher’s miss after that grab was deflating as the Bombers went on to lose to St Kilda by nine points after kicking 14.14.

Darcy Parish kicks the winning goal against Melbourne. Picture: Alex Coppel

THE COACH

In his return to the fray since leaving West Coast at the end of 2013, John Worsfold has played a key role in unifying what was a fractured club. He has remained positive throughout a challenging season, and has ensured the emerging talent have been given a chance.

YOU SAID IT

“These players haven’t lost momentum or lost faith at any point. It’s nice to win, but all our messages have been — regardless of wins and losses — that it’s about the effort we’re putting in and what we’re trying to achieve.”

— Worsfold after the team’s Round 23 win over Carlton

BEST-AND-FAIREST

Zach Merrett has enjoyed an impressive season that culminated in his call-up as stand-in captain for the injured Brendon Goddard late in the year. In his third AFL season, Merrett gathered a staggering 657 disposals, a new club record, at an average of 30 a game. Don’t be surprised if James Kelly finishes second. The former Cat has been a beacon of consistency after being recruited as a top-up and the club would dearly love to have him again in 2017. David Zaharakis started the year like a house on fire but faded badly while Michael Hartley, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and Joe Daniher should all finish highly.

B&F Count: Crighton Medal, Crown Palladium, August 31

Zach Merrett was unlucky to miss the All-Australian squad.

SUPERCOACH STUD

That man Zach Merrett again. Available as a forward this season (don’t expect a repeat in 2017), Merrett started out at just $477,500 and finished the season as the No.1 ranked forward and eighth overall point-scorer after averaging 111. Special mentions to James Kelly, who scored 90-plus in 14 of his 20 games, and pre-season cash cows Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Mitch Brown, Matt Dea and Michael Hartley, who all provided strong scoring and excellent cash returns.

SUPERCOACH DUD

Perhaps a little controversial but David Zaharakis sucked a lot of SuperCoaches in with his sensational start to the season. The Bomber midfielder started with four straight hundreds and an average of 123. However, he managed just two more in the next 14 games — a 20 against Fremantle was the lowlight — and he finished the year with a 91-point average.

THE LIST

ELITE: Zach Merrett (returning Dyson Heppell, Michael Hurley, Cale Hooker)

BIG IMPROVERS: Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Orazio Fantasia, Mitch Brown, Michael Hartley

GONE: Adam Cooney (retired), Mathew Stokes (retired) Michael Hibberd (requested trade)

GOING, GOING: Nick Kommer (banned Jobe Watson, Tayte Pears)

TRADE BAIT: Michael Hibberd

Adam Cooney hung up the boots after two years at Essendon.

WILL THE TOP-UPS STAY OR GO?

Essendon was permitted to recruit 10 “top-up players” as a result of the WADA suspensions and added James Kelly, Mathew Stokes, Matt Dea, James Polkinghorne, Ryan Crowley, Jonathan Simpkin, Mark Jamar, Sam Grimley, Nathan Grima and Sam Michael to its list on short-term contracts. Under AFL rules, the Bombers would have to draft them to make them a permanently listed player. The Bombers would love to keep James Kelly but a role with the AFL is waiting for him. Defender Matt Dea is the only other top-up likely to get a look-in in 2017.

WHAT THEY NEED

Obviously, the returning banned Bombers makes Essendon’s list look instantly better. Even a finals contender. The Bombers would love some more goalkicking power, only four players (Joe Daniher, Orazio Fantasia, Mitch Brown and Kyle Langford) have kicked more than 10 goals. Perhaps that comes down to supply and some more class around the ball would be handy. As such, making a choice between Ben Ainsworth and Hugh McCluggage will be difficult come draft time. Given the Bombers will be getting back their banned stars, don’t expect them to be overly active in trade week except for getting the best deal possible for Hibberd.

PREMIERSHIP CLOCK

Could be 6pm, could be 9pm, so many great unknowns with a swag of stars returning in 2017 — but after a full season out of the game.

THE STATS

REPORT CARD: ESSENDON 2016
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SOURCE: Champion Data