For the remainder of December and into the New Year, the Engine Room will be running profiles of 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 BLAKE CARACELLA. Caracella is undoubtedly one of the Bombers stars and he is now one of the most consistent performers in the side. He will be critical in 2002.

Blake Caracella has been one of the stars for the Bombers over the past two seasons. He was a key to the bombers 2000 Premiership and again was very solid in 2001. Top five finishes in the past two Crichton Medals were excellent results and a measure of the important role the match committee believe he plays.

Caracella played mainly as a wing / half forward during 2001 but spent considerably more time in the middle after the Bombers stocks were depleted through injury. And he found plenty of the football in 2001 averaging more than 20 possessions per game – a fantastic return. It was a slight increase on his numbers of 2000 and another measure of his consistency. He was the club leader in short kicks and handballs and second in loose ball gets. He was fourth in handballs received and clearances while he was fifth in general marks, inside 50s and hard balls gets. Whichever way you look at it he made a terrific contribution.

Caracella will again be an important part of Essendon’s 2002 campaign. The fact he can hurt you through the middle and in front of goals sees him receive much more attention from opposition sides than he was initially afforded. That trend will continue in 2002 but he has shown he has the ability to play with tags and still have an impact. Caracella will be 25 when the 2002 season starts and he is now a seasoned senior player in the prime of his career. He will want to ensure the Bombers make the most of their talented list over the next few seasons.

How will he be used?

Given even luck with injuries Caracella will probably spend more time at wing / half forward than he did in 2001. That said, he showed he is very good in close and he will certainly be a part of the group that Essendon rotate through the middle on match day.

What will the coaches want on match day?

They will basically want more of the same. Caracella has found plenty of the football in recent years and has an uncanny ability to isolate himself if he is not being tagged. He can also be a damaging player in front of goal – he kicked 35 goals in 2000 and 25 in 2001. They will again ask him to contribute on the scoreboard.