The countdown to season 2002 is on in earnest and in our continuing Engine Room series we look at the senior listed players and pin-point their roles in the upcoming season. Today we take a look at GARY MOORCROFT. For Gary Moorcroft, 2001 was a season of fluctuating fortunes. He struggled to find the consistency he would have wanted and the form that everyone at Essendon Football Club he could produce. For Moorcroft, the season-high was probably his selection in the Grand Final side. As is the case with all those who took the ground later that week – his season-low hit him right between the eyes just a few days later.

Speculation was rife at the end of 2001 that Moorcroft’s time at Windy Hill was up. Salary cap pressures were forcing the Bombers to make some tough calls and Moorcroft looked set to become an unfortunate victim. But the Bombers’ managed to re-negotiate an acceptable deal and Moorcroft will again remain at Essendon Football Club. He will be very keen to impress.

Moorcroft would have been frustrated by last season, particularly after playing an important role in the Bombers’ premiership victory in 2000. His football was played in patches – perhaps the product of the amount of time he spent on the bench. He did however produce one of the highlights of the season when he took a sensational mark against the Western Bulldogs – it was later judged to be the AFL Mark of the Year.

Moorcroft has worked very hard during the preseason to ensure he is at peak fitness when the pre-season competition begins. He will want to start the season running to ensure he earns himself a place in the senior side come round one. He knows all to well that the Essendon senior side can be a difficult one to break into if you find yourself out of it.

How will he be used on match day?

Moorcroft has generally been used as a burst player up forward and he performed that role very effectively at times last season – his efforts against the Western Bulldogs at Colonial Stadium a prime example of what he can do. He also went into the mid-field at times during the season and had an impact. He will be used in a similar fashion this season. He will want to have an impact when moved onto the ball to ensure he gets more game time.

What will the coaches expect on match day?

The role of as small forward is a difficult one because you can quickly find yourself off the ground if you haven’t contributed on the scoreboard. That is what the coaches will want of him – he must make the most of the crumbs provided by the tall Essendon forwards and use his pace to lead and provide options while also creating space for Matthew Lloyd. Moorcroft kicked 23 goals in Essendon’s Premiership year – that will be the minimum return the coaching staff will want in 2002.