For Aaron Henneman season 2001 promised much but in the end delivered bitter disappointment. Henneman played 19 senior games for the Bombers – generally at centre half-back – and was gearing himself towards making his first finals’ appearance for Essendon. But his season came crashing down around him in the Bombers’ round 21 clash with West Coast. Henneman badly tore his hamstring and his season was over. He was devastated.
So Henneman, as does the whole team, will be looking at season 2002 as presenting him with the chance to right the wrong of late last season. With 27-games experience now behind him he will want to further establish his claims to the centre half-back position. It will be critically important to Essendon that he can do that. Essendon is reasonably thin when it comes to tall defenders. Dustin Fletcher and Sean Wellman are the other two obvious tall options down back while Danny Jacobs and Dean Solomon can both play tall. But apart from this, the Bombers don’t have too many choices. The coaching panel would rather play Solomon and Jacobs on mid-sized forwards and release Wellman to play a sweeping game across half back. It is therefore important that Henneman stand firm at centre half-back.
Physically there is little doubt that Henneman has what is required to play in the key defensive post. Big, strong and athletic – he can match it with most in this department. Mentally he will have taken giant strides from the faith shown in him by the match committee last season. A strong performance in the pre-season competition and in the early rounds of the season will ensure the self-belief is maintained.
How will he be used on match day?
A lot will depend on the opposition and which opposition forward gets Dustin Fletcher. Fletcher is generally best suited at full back and he may simply play there and take whatever comes his way. Henneman will get the next tall – generally the opposition’s second best marking option. This will usually see Henneman pushed out to the half back line.
What will the coaches expect on match day?
The coaching staff will want Henneman to simply play good, disciplined football. They will want to see him continually doing the basic defensive skills well and bring the ball to ground in marking contests. At ground level his agility will give him an advantage over many of his likely opponents. They will want to mark him down as a permanent fixture at centre half-back.
