According to the ladder, Essendon has had one win this season.  But a season as unique as this requires a little more digging when determining how many ‘wins’ the Bombers have had.  The side received four points for the win over Melbourne, but there are some other victories that may provide rewards further down the track.

Unearthing talent

This time last year Michael Hartley, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Mitch Brown and Matt Dea were playing in the VFL.  Fast forward 12 months and they are regular members of the Essendon line-up.

Hartley leads the Bombers for average spoils and intercepts marks.  The former Coburg player has taken on some of the game’s best key forwards.  He kept Tom Hawkins goalless and Jesse Hogan to just one. 

Walla is setting the pace for running bounces and effective kicks inside 50.  The following he cultivated in the VFL has only been enhanced on the bigger stage.

You get the feeling Hartley and Walla will also be a key part of the defence next season, regardless of how many Bombers choose to return. 

Dea’s path to Essendon’s 2017 defence is a little more clouded.  The Dons would have to secure him via the draft.  The reigning Richmond VFL best and fairest has impressed with his courage, determination and his versatility has allowed him to play on ‘talls’ and ‘smalls’.

Brown has settled in attack, but also boasts the ability to be shifted into defence.  He’s proven an excellent forward target alongside Joe Daniher, booting 16 goals.

Darcy Parish was highly touted before last year's National Draft and so far he's lived up to the hype.  He's averaging 21 possessions per game, kicked the sealer against Melbourne, has been awarded a Rising Star nomination and looks set to be a regular feature of the Essendon midfield for the next decade.

Experienced core stepping up

Given the holes created by the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling, the importance of the remaining experienced core was only going to increase. 

David Zaharakis has led the charge, returning to his best and fairest form, averaging 27 possessions per game.  Captain Brendon Goddard boasts similar numbers while Adam Cooney is collecting 24 possessions per game, after gathering 17 a match in his first season as a Bomber.

James Kelly has proven an astute pick up, splitting his time between defence and midfield.  He’s ranked in the top five at Essendon for disposals, intercept possessions, tackles and marks.

Ruck stocks

Matthew Leuenberger’s stop-start career appears to have found the consistency he craves.  He’s missed just one game so far this season, with his work rate around the ground showing he’s more than just a ruckman. 

In the last fortnight he’s worked in tandem with Mark Jamar.  With Tom Bellchambers signaling his intention to return next season, the success of the two pronged ruck combination takes on extra significance.  Leuenberger and Jamar proved a threat when stationed deep in attack against GWS, while the side was able to keep pace with the Giants midfield for most of the match.

Paddy Ambrose has spent time in defence this season.

Multi dimensional players

The ‘utility’ is back in vogue and the trialling of some seasoned Bombers in new positions has added an extra dimension to the side for this season and beyond.

Paddy Ambrose appears the chief beneficiary.  The bulk of his first 42 games have been spent in the forward half, but more recently he’s played in the back line.  Ambrose’s endurance and toughness are well known and those qualities have helped him quell some dangerous forwards including Matthew Pavlich, Jack Riewoldt and Jeremy Cameron.

Orazio Fantasia started the season in the midfield but has now moved forward, culminating in his dominant performance against GWS.  He’s shown he can amass possessions in the midfield, but in recent weeks he’s also shown he can hit the scoreboard.  Fantasia had eight scoring shots against the Giants and sits in third place in Essendon’s goal kicking race with 14 majors.

Mark Baguley has had a taste of life in the forward line too.  The two-time winner of Essendon’s Most Courageous player award was shifted into attack against Sydney and St Kilda.  He generated four shots at goal in those two weeks and laid nine tackles.

Games into the young players

Joe Daniher, Zach Merrett, Darcy Parish, Kyle Langford, Michael Hartley, Orazio Fantasia and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti have been regulars in the senior line-up this season.

Not only are they playing, they’re also performing key roles.

Daniher and Merrett are leading the Dons next wave of young stars.  After honing his forward craft alongside Cale Hooker, Michael Hurley and Jake Carlisle in recent seasons, Daniher has taken on the number one forward mantle and has lifted his output across a number of key statistical areas including disposals, marks and score involvements.

Merrett is collecting six more possessions per week this season compared to last.

Langford has spent time in the midfield that he may not have been afforded had the more seasoned stars lined up in 2016.  His numbers are well up on last year (14.6 possessions per game in 2016, 8 per game in 2015).

Matching it with the best

Despite being undermanned, the Dons have shown they can compete with the best.  The Bombers kept pace with the Swans for a half on their home patch, matched it with Geelong for long periods, kicked eight goals to two after half time against the Kangaroos and led the Giants for most of the match.  

VFL

Matthew Egan’s side sits in sixth position with a healthy percentage.  It’s all to play for with eight games to go.  Another finals campaign, on the back of last season preliminary final appearance, would do wonders for the development of Essendon’s next batch of young talent.