Essendon Bombers news 2024: Zach Merrett discusses midfield squeeze, Sam Draper sets sights on round 1

Skipper Zach Merrett says the gap between Essendon and the AFL’s best sides isn’t as big as the ladder suggests, but has conceded the club’s coaches have a big question to answer.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 30 2024 Sam Draper at Essendon pre-season training at the Hanger. Picture: Brendan Beckett

Essendon’s established midfielders will be forced to “level up” this season as increasing competition for spots in the engine room looks set to cause headaches for coaches.

Captain Zach Merrett “lost a few” kilograms during the off-season as he seeks to “keep improving” his game after a fourth best-and-fairest win last year.

Fellow on-ball regular Darcy Parish — an All-Australian in 2021 — has also been starring on the track as a raft of challengers push their cases to pinch more midfield minutes this season.

Sam Durham has spent significant time playing as an inside midfielder at training over summer, while Jye Caldwell, Ben Hobbs, Archie Perkins and Elijah Tsatas are among a growing group of players targeting greater game time in the guts.

“I think that’s probably the biggest question at the moment for coaches,” Merrett said of the midfield mix.

“It’s a great thing having a lot more talent — and a lot more talent coming through. Balancing that’s obviously difficultat times — whether you keep playing the same guys or whether you give guys opportunity.

The squeeze is on for midfield spots at Essendon. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

“Darcy Parish has probably been our best trainer throughout the pre-season. Obviously you look for guys like Hobbs and Caldwell and Durham to come through and drive our group forward, but when you’ve got an All-Australian who’s finished in the top threeor four in the Brownlow coming back fitter and stronger … that’s also going to drive the group forward and force those other guys to level-up as well to try and take his spot.”

Essendon finished 11th on the ladder last year and still haven’t won a final since 2004.

However, Merrett said he did not believe the gap to the top sides was significant and the Bombers could close it if they can strengthen the defensive side of their game.

“It’s been a constant chat and probably fans are sick of hearing we need to work on our defence,” Merrett said.

“It doesn’t even need to be No.1 (in the competition), but we certainly need to bring that gap down to be able to balance our full game plan around that. I hope fans can come and watch and know what they’re going to get. That’s what I want to see.”

The Bombers conceded the fourth-most points of any team in the competition in 2023.

DRAPER BACKS GOLDY PARTNERSHIP, SETS SIGHTS ON ROUND 1

Essendon ruckman Sam Draper will be set “free” at training on Wednesday for the first time this off-season as he sets his sights on partnering with Todd Goldstein in round 1.

Draper has been in the rehabilitation group at Tullamarine throughout the off-season, following groin surgery in September.

However, he has finally got himself “pain-free” over recent weeks and remains hopeful of playing some minutes in the Bombers’ practice matches as preparations for the home-and-away campaign ramp up.

“The last two weeks I’ve been running around, kicking footys, doing little drills here and there with the boys and being pain-free, which is great,” Draper said on Tuesday.

Sam Draper at Essendon pre-season training at the Hanger. Picture: Brendan Beckett

“So probably the next step is that genuine training with the group, contact, stuff like that.

“Hitting speed, that’s no issue. So it’s just more the short and sharp stuff.

“Tomorrow is a big test for me, so I’m really excited for that.”

Draper battled groin issues throughout the second half of last season, before going under the knife post-season.

The 25-year-old played just one game after Essendon’s mid-season bye and said he would have to continue to carefully manage his body in the early part of this year.

“It’s not a straightforward injury,” Draper said.

“I feel like other injuries I’ve had in the past have been really clear-cut on what you need to do to get better.

“(But) this injury has had a lot of grey area, which is hard at times to work through. But I feel like it’s taught me a lot and I feel like I’m going to be better off after this injury.

“The club’s been really good at not rushing me and Scotty (coach Brad Scott) has been awesome at just saying, ‘There’s no pressure on when you come back’. Whenever I’m 100 per cent and good, that’s when I’ll play.”

Draper said he was confident he could form a strong ruck partnership alongside experienced recruit Goldstein this year, dismissing suggestions that a two-pronged ruck attack did not work for Melbourne in 2023, when the Demons played Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy together.

Sam Draper competing against new teammate – former North Melbourne veteran Todd Goldstein. Draper says he is confident the two can play in tandem. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“Me and Andrew Phillips were playing well together, before Gawn and Grundy (last season),” Draper said.

“It did work well together, me and Flip, and I feel like Goldy’s an amazing player too, so I feel like it definitely can work.

“I’ve worked hard on my forward craft and I feel like I’m a little bit different to some other rucks. I reckon I can play forward and feel comfortable there. (If I) just get my goalkicking right, I feel like I’ll be pretty dangerous.”

Draper kicked multiple goals in two matches early last season, including three against Melbourne in round 5 when he split ruck duties with Phillips.

Essendon will take on St Kilda in match simulation at Moorabbin next Friday, ahead of an official pre-season hitout against Geelong at GMHBA Stadium on March 1.

The Bombers will play long-time rival Hawthorn at the MCG in round 1 on March 16.