The 2002 season looms large and in the New Year the Engine Room will continue to profile each player on the Essendon senior list. We will have a look at what went right in 2001 and what went wrong. What will the coaching staff want from each player and how might they be used in 2002. Today we take a look at ROB FORSTER-KNIGHT. Forster-Knight is a quietly spoken young man who looks to be going places. He has a steely resolve to make it at the top level and that is matched by his work ethic and discipline. He is one of the young player the Bombers will be wanting to jump up and grab his chance in 2002.

Rob Forster-Knight managed nine senior games in season 2001. He made his debut against Sydney in round four and his contribution from that point on was solid. Forster-Knight didn’t take opposition sides apart but the signs were well and truly there that he has what is required to make it at the top level. The match committee like his attitude and his he hasn’t missed a beat in the 2002 pre-season.

Forster-Knight spent his time in the senior side primarily as a defender but he was also given some mid-field roles. His most noteable performance came in round 18 against Carlton when he was swung onto a rampant Brett Ratten after half-time. Forster-Knight did an outstanding job cutting the Blues’ star out of the game. It is a role he may play more often in the coming season.

Forster-Knight will approach the 2002 season with much excitement and confidence after an excellent second season at AFL level. It would be no surprise to see him line-up in the Bombers’ round one side and he will be difficult to dislodge once he gets there. He is extremely disciplined – a good listener who will do the job given to him. He moves well and at 186cm is big enough. He has also bulked up physically. Forster-Knight could just be the ‘smokey’ for the Bombers in 2002.

How will he be used?

Undoubtedly it is the defensive skills of Forster-Knight that have been most impressive to this stage of his career. Given this, it is in deep in defence where he is likely to play most of his football – he may turn out to be the logical replacement for Damien Hardwick. As he has already shown, he could also be swung onto the ball in a defensive role. As he plays more football and grows in confidence he will become more creative.

What will the coaches want on match day?

The coaches will want Forster-Knight to play disciplined football and initially just do the job they ask of him. Initially, how many times he gets the football won’t be the barometer used to measure his performance – it will be how many times his opponent gets the football. The coaching staff will want him to do the basics well and add to his game as he becomes more used to playing elite-level football.