The whole Essendon situation is unprecedented. Now get over it, move forward, learn the lessons and grow.

I have discussed in an earlier article ‘what success looks like’ in 2016, both from a team and individual perspective.  Some may say that success may well be ‘the 12’ returning.  To me you can’t disrespect the fight the current list is putting up and that is where my focus remains.

Essendon is currently capable of playing better football than several of the teams in the lower part of the ladder.  Therein lies the team challenge.  Fight on.  Do not allow this great club to finish with the wooden spoon. As the great Alan Jeans said; ‘do not accept what’s going on’.

One of the major priorities is obviously individual.  By the end of the year, judge the developing players on the steps they have taken.  Mark the coaches on how well they have exposed and developed these players.  As Kevin Sheedy always said to us as young coaches; ‘when the decisions are tight, always play your next 100 game players’.

It was interesting to see Essendon name three of their most experienced players against Hawthorn.  Maybe the Hawks aren’t the team to send out a very young side.  

So based the philosophy of finding your next 100 gamers – a philosophy that has stood the test of time - let’s look at who they may be and why they should be playing.  The coaching panel have a huge onus on them to get to the end of the year having identified and developed 100 game players for the future of the club.

The only qualification I put on this is that I don’t know any of the boys and like you I watch from the grandstand.  For that sake of this exercise, I’m focusing on six players, leaving out Joe Daniher (60 games) and Zach Merrett (49 games).  I chose six players from the list that I find the most intriguing.

Anthony McDonald-Tipunwuti

A genuine find.  Poised in traffic and has the vision to see three options and then choose the right one.  He’s not hurried by opposition pressure, keeps his balance and more importantly keeps his feet.  He has the courage to take any situation on. Walla is developing a nice defensive balance to his game.

Another 12 months of total dedication to his professional AFL lifestyle and a tough pre-season sees him clearly project himself into Essendon’s best team, regardless of ins and outs.  He has great balance and a low centre of gravity he is also a wonderful tackler, staying low at the hips. Great technique.  

The only disappointment was that he was rested against Hawthorn and a marketing, crowd and development opportunity to see ‘Walla v Rioli’ was lost. That would have got me through the gate.

Kyle Langford

19 years of age, 191cm and pushing up to 85kg.  His exposure to the midfield in the practice game series was excellent.  Langford has the prototype body for a developing midfielder and adds the extra string to the bow by pushing forward and kicking goals.

Langford is the flanking type forward, so he must develop his aerobic capacity and maybe mental toughness to relentlessly push to contest after contest.  He looks like a calm, composed player but as he develops more physically, a more aggressive approach should come through.  

He can still learn the craft of midfield stoppages both at training and in game scenarios. I hope his midfield opportunities are not limited.

Orazio Fantasia

He has built his body up but could still do with another pre-season on the weights.  Certainly his midfield stamina can always go to the next level.

I must say after his strong start to the season on a wing, to find him playing in the forward pocket in a crumbing role was disappointing.  I see it as a wasted opportunity to teach and develop the midfield art.

What a bonus come next pre-season.  Essendon will have a strong inside midfield group next year but certainly not quick.  Colyer and Fantasia on the ‘outside’ provides pace and a good balance.

I realise Essendon hasn’t had a crumber since Darren Bewick but Fantasia’s next stage of his development must be midfield - project thinking and coaching ahead 12 months from now.

At the moment he is selected as a small forward that can go into midfield.  By the end of the year it should be the opposite - a midfielder than can go forward.

Jackson Merrett

He played his best game for the club with a very impressive midfield performance against Melbourne.  He collected 28 disposals, took 10 marks, laid three tackles, had three clearances and three inside 50’s.  This followed on from a solid game against Gold Coast in a losing team.  

The stage appeared set for Merrett to gain confidence in his role.  The next week against Port Adelaide, he had a bad day.  There were some undisciplined acts, missed tackles and the stats show one kick and six handballs and he was left out for the next match.

It was an unforgiving decision at the selection table.  Was he harshly dealt with or were the coaches uncompromising?  Out of this we didn’t get to see how Jackson would respond at senior level the next week.  To me that’s the learning experience about the character and qualities of a young player.  He returned against Fremantle and Hawthorn.

Darcy Parish

Essendon people like him because of his appetite for the contest.  He runs hard and finds the football.  He works very hard in and around the contest and has excellent second and third efforts.

He’s not a big midfielder like Cripps from Carlton, Fyfe etc, and at 181 and 73kg there is a lot of physical development still to come.  Melbourne overlooked him on size going for Oliver at 188cm and 86kg.  Parish will have to be taught other aspects of his game that compliment his natural tenacity and hunting instinct.

There is a good balance of inside and outside play and recently we have seen a good appetite for a goal.

Natural improvement will come through additional pre-seasons where his body strength and stamina reserves will continue to improve.  At the moment he is seeing the first target, so he must lift his vision up field and see the longer 50m target which will allow him to be a more penetrating and dangerous kick.

Shaun Edwards

Now for Shaun, everyone’s favourite discussion point. 

He’s at the perfect age, 22.  Great height and weight at 189cm and 82kg.  His pace is exceptional, great athleticism and very good skills.

Edwards made his debut for GWS where he played 12 games in two seasons and he represented the Bombers 12 times since arriving three years ago.

Position wise he has shown potential at half forward and on a wing.

Having ticked all the boxes, Edwards finds himself back in the Essendon side courtesy of good VFL form.

I saw him dominate an APS competition for Melbourne Grammar before he was drafted.

So where are we now? Is there a go home factor to Darwin or has Edwards committed himself to exploring all available options along the journey to making it to 100 games for Essendon? No doubt all coaches have put a plan in place for Shaun.  Let’s just hope he has the capacity to mentally push himself hard in order to unlock undeniable talent.

To quote who plays Terry Malloy, (Marlon Brando) a potential boxing champion, in the movie On the Waterfront : “I could’ve been a contender”.