David Myers 2015 season totaled barely a half, but in that time he demonstrated why he is so important to the Essendon line-up.

Just a few minutes in to the Bombers round one match against Sydney, Myers injured his shoulder.

He was assisted from the field and wasn’t seen again in an AFL match until round 20.

Myers involvement was longer on that occasion but again ended in pain.

He collected 22 possessions in just over a half against Adelaide before a knee to the back ended his match and his season.

Still only 26, Myers is about to enter his ninth season.  He has played 85 games and has become one of the Bombers key leaders through voice and deed.

Most of his seasons have been impacted by injury but he did have an extended run in 2013 and 2014.  He played 38 games across those two years and the team won enough games to qualify for the finals on both occasions.

In 2013 and 2014 Essendon was ranked in the upper echelon for contested possession.  When Myers and other big bodied midfielders, Heath Hocking and Jobe Watson, went down in 2015, the Bombers fell to 16^th.

At 191 centimetres and 88 kilograms, Myers has the key-position frame that is becoming more common in the modern day midfield.  His left foot provides range few can match.

Without their best-contested ball players last season, the Bombers faced a tough task.  But now those players, including Myers, are back and ready to make an impact in 2016.