AFL 2024: Bombers set to be handed prime time fixtures as finals beckons
Essendon could be without Sam Draper for an extended period, but it may not matter as the Bombers look to cash in on a fantastic start to the 2024 season, and their fans dare to dream.
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Essendon ruckman Sam Draper will meet with a knee specialist on Monday to determine whether the star big man undergoes knee surgery.
Draper was unable to complete main training last week due to a knee grumble and may need an arthroscope to help fix a meniscus issue.
The Bombers are confident they have the resources to cover a two or three-week absence from Draper with the club surging towards a finals berth.
Brad Scott’s men are in third spot after posting their most impressive win of the season over GWS Giants by 20 points on Saturday and have a soft run to come.
The Bombers take on North Melbourne (Marvel), Richmond (MCG), Gold Coast (MCG), Carlton (MCG) and West Coast (Marvel) over the next five weeks.
But Draper could be missing for the next few matches if the specialist decides Draper should have a minor procedure on his knee after battling a groin issue last year.
It would mean Goldstein, who has been an excellent pick-up for the Bombers this year playing all nine games, would continue to lead the ruck, while full back Ben McKay will also face his old team for the first time.
McKay has been a revelation for the Bombers this year helping improve the club’s back line sharply in 2024 although the club has conceded the second-most points of the top eight sides.
McKay left the Roos last year to join the red and black as a free agent and is eyeing his first finals appearance in his ninth season.
In the midfield, Essendon’s points from clearances have surged from 16th last year to 5th this year, while their clearance differential has skyrocketed from 12th to 2nd.
Geelong champion Steve Johnson said the Bombers “would definitely play finals” where the club would shoot for its first finals win in two decades.
Gun Bombers’ forward Kyle Langford said the Bombers were starting to get some reward for a lot of effort inside the club and on the training track.
“There is a really good vibe around the club, we are starting to build a better culture, a winning culture and that is something that we have been starved of almost through no fault of our own over the last 10 years,” Langford said on Triple M.
“It is really good to get some reward for effort and we owe it all to Scotty and Zach (Merrett), they have been unbelievable setting up the culture and the platform for a lot of players to grow.
“We are seeing a lot of players have career-best years albeit it is nine rounds in.”
The Bombers’ surge comes off some bold decision-making from president Dave Barham to overhaul the football department including the move to sack ex-coach Ben Rutten for Scott, after missing out on Clarkson.
The Kangaroos were pummeled by 68 points by Gold Coast on Saturday night, marking their fifth loss this season by more than 50 points.
The club has won only one of its last 30 matches.
BOMBERS’ HOT START SET TO BE REWARDED
Essendon is expected to be rewarded for its excellent early season form with multiple blockbuster Friday night matches in the AFL’s fixture release on Tuesday.
The impressive Bombers could be put on prime time under lights when they clash with Geelong, reigning premier Collingwood and Melbourne in Rounds 16-18.
The first 15 rounds are already locked in and the AFL will on Tuesday announce when the matches will be played for games between rounds 16-23.
The last round will remain a floating fixture.
But the Bombers look set to be handed several blockbuster slots with the club also slated to face premiership favourite Sydney Swans (Marvel) in Round 23 and Brisbane Lions in Round 24.
The Bombers haven’t won a final since 2003 and are certain to be one of the biggest storylines in the run home to the finals as they look for September success.
The club has drawn huge crowds this year with 37, 295 attending on Saturday, the most in the club’s history for a clash against GWS Giants.
Former captain Dyson Heppell has not won a final in his 244-game career.
Collingwood is also set to feature prominently in the fixture release with massive games against Geelong in Round 18, Carlton in Round 21, Sydney Swans in Round 22 and Melbourne in Round 24.
Originally published as AFL 2024: Bombers set to be handed prime time fixtures as finals beckons
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