Essendon assistant coach Mark Harvey doesn't expect the Bombers to suffer a mental let-down in the wake of the lofty heights they reached in season 2000. AFL / VFL history is littered with sides who have looked like world-beaters one year and battlers the next. It is the dreaded premiership hangover - the summit has been reached, the intensity drops and opposition sides pounce. But Harvey believes the Bombers have a number of factors in their favour which he believes will count for plenty when the season kicks off tonight.

""I think the seven-month break is very much in our favour. It was a long season and it took its toll on everyone mentally and physically - the extra month has been a bonus in terms of getting everyone re-focussed and fit,"" Harvey said.

""I also believe the Olmpics helped as well. There can be so much focus on premiership teams and premiership players - that attention doesn't help players keep their feet on the ground. The fact the Olympics came around helped in that regards. Football became secondary almost immeidately so I think that also helped.""

The Bombers back-to-back campaign begins tonight against the Kangaroos in what is certain to be a very physical game. ""There is no doubt this will be a physical match and that is a great way to start the season. If any player needs a wake up call it won't take him long to realise the real stuff is back,"" Harvey said.

The Bombers last won back-to-back premierships in 1984 and 1985. Harvey played in the 1985 side. ""It was a tremendous achievement but it is the last thing on our minds at the moment. You focus on the process, not the prize and no-one can afford to forget how hard we worked to achieve what we did last season. It all starts tonight,"" Harvey said.