In this week's poll we ask which Bomber would be leading the 2009 Crichton Medal count if it was held now?
Has the consistent brilliance of Andrew Lovett caught your eye, does Jobe Watson get the knod or has Paddy Ryder leapt over them all?
To vote in this week's poll click here.
Last week we asked, with half the season completed, if you think Essendon will play finals this year and 43% of fans said 'yes', 38.35 were a resounding 'no' and 18.66% believed 'maybe'.
Here is what some of the fans had to say:
Nathan from Sunbury says: A tough run of games coming up. The North and Adelaide games were must wins and they could decide the fate of our season. Three interstate trips won't help either but they are definitely winnable - Sydney, Freo and West Coast. If we are a finals team we should win the two in Perth
Geoff Bell from Pascoe Vale South says: I would love to see Essendon play finals this year! But after such disappointing losses against North Melbourne and recently Adelaide, I just don't see it happening sadly.
Kristian Pike from Montmorency/Victora/Australia says: No, I don't think we can make finals this year, we have dropped too many winnable games like Adelaide and North Melbourne. Both of those games we should of won, and it is really disappointing to see. But I guess next year is our year.
Greg Sloan from Somerville VIC says: Sure we can. Being successful in sport requires many ingredients. One of those is luck. We've had little or none. If we can keep improving and if we can get something that resembles our best 22 on the park (that's the luck part), then why not? We have beaten three sides this year that are fancied for the eight. And, we've really pushed a few of the current top eight sides. The sky is the limit for us in the next few years as far as I'm concerned. Go Dons.
Matt Milburn from Ferntree Gully says: Our team is only getting stronger as players come back from injury. With a solid effort in the later part of the season we should be able to slide into the finals picture.
Jan Di Pietro from New York says: Provided the core players can stay fit from now on, then I see no reason why the team shouldn't play finals if they play to their maximum. Given the first half of the year, I think things are looking up for the second half. Although, if Paddy goes down we are very vulnerable.
Baz from Perth says: Not hungry or good enough.
Stefan from Strathmore Victoria says: Anything is possible after 1993!
Brad from Vic says: I would love to see the Bombers playing finals this year and think there is still a good chance. However it is a very tough run home with two trips to WA and one to Sydney as well as playing St Kilda, Bulldogs and Hawthorn it seems unlikely. Big ask but probably need to win next three matches to stay in it. The losses to Adelaide and North will probably cost a finals place.
Michael from Warrandyte says: For us to play Finals, we need to develop a bit more grunt and be more competitive than we have. There are some players there because of past performance or future potential, not current form
Joseph Attard from Taylors Hill says: It depends on the Melbourne match. If we lose, it's over for 2009 in my opinion. If we win, there is still hope. We just have to stay in touch with the 8 and not get too far behind.
Jeremy from Victoria says: Have some faith guys!! We can make it if we can believe in ourselves!! We have a great young team who can play great footy!! GO THE DONS!
Maranatha from Ferntree Gully says: Our next three matches, against Melbourne, Carlton and Collingwood are the key. I'm confident that with Fletcher, Welsh and other players to return to the team from Round 12 onwards, it should help settle our back six - and the rest of the team - down and we can start stringing some wins together like we did last year. Of course, the three remaining interstate trips will be tough, but we've got a decent winning chance in most other games here in Melbourne.
Ben from Berwick says: It never hurts to be optimistic. If we play hard, fast footy and continue to take the game on we should make it.
Rod from Hurstbridge says: It is a tight year this year. On a given day almost any of the teams between 4th and tenth can come up trumps. It is hard to see any of the others with as much potential in the mix, though. We've already beaten three of the teams above us, and meet the Lions on much friendlier turf next time. The Swans in Sydney, St Kilda and the Doggies are our hardest matches, but we certainly have the ability to match them at our best. Somewhere between 4th & 8th is my bet.
Karen Dibbs from Taylors Hill Vic says: The Bombers have to stop giving up in their second half of a game, like last week against Adelaide.
Mark Elze from Albanvale,Victoria. says: Tough question. I believe we will have to win 1 of either the Carlton or Collingwood games. Win both and the ball is in our court. The game against Sydney at the SCG could well decide who might scrape in to 7th or 8th spot. We may also need to win 1 of the Subiaco games. If we lose both Carlton and Coll games though, that might be it.
Cameron from Tasmania says: No chance of making finals until we get rid of Monfries, Slattery who have been inAFL for a few years now and are still shocking players. McPhee is a legend
Adam from Kings Park says: Would love to see these young blooded Bombers make the finals, but the fact of the matter is they will just fall short. Hope I am eating my own words at the end of the season. Prove me wrong young Dons and have a crack at the opportunity that awaits..
Tom from Essendon says: No we won't because we drop games we shouldn’t E.g. North, Crows and Brisbane
Al Bishop from Tassie says: I cannot see the bombers winning 7 or 8 games out of the 11(but I hope they do).
Patrick Betham from SA says: We need to be patient & supportive. Don't forget, the more games the young guys get the more experienced they become & the more consistent & better they become. It's a trade off..You can't learn & become consistently better unless you experience the lows. Jobe Watson is a classic example..A couple of years ago (even last year) he was criticized from pillar to post, now he is one of our most consistent performers. The future looks bright.
