In an off-season of considerable change for the Bombers, no line could look more different than their defence in 2021.

With new assistant coach Daniel Giansiracusa overseeing the backline, two accomplished half-backs departing and seven new faces training in the group, much intrigue already surrounds the make-up and style of the Bombers’ rearguard.

Dons Digital caught up with Giansiracusa to delve into the key questions on his team within the team.

Who are the new faces?

The Bombers shored up their tall defensive stocks in the draft, securing Zach Reid (pick No.10) and Cody Brand (No.53).

Top selection Nik Cox (pick No.8) has also been mooted for a potential half-back role, but the athletic 200cm recruit has been training mainly with the midfielders.

Ned Cahill and Jayden Laverde have switched to defence, while James Stewart, who was trialled down back late last season, has continued to work on his craft as a key defender.

Captain Dyson Heppell has joined trade acquisition Nick Hind across half-back ahead of his return from a lengthy stint on the sidelines, while more forward time for Michael Hurley has kept Cale Hooker as the key pillar in defence this pre-season.  

“There’s a lot of change down there, but that’s exciting. You can really mould the group and it’s competitive for spots. They’ve really embraced that competition,” Giansiracusa said.

“We’re starting to gain a little bit of depth there while also understanding there’s knowledge you have to gain because they’re (new defenders) inexperienced in some spaces. I’m leaning on ‘Truck’ (senior coach Ben Rutten) but also experienced players like ‘Hooksy’ (Cale Hooker) and Marty Gleeson to implement what we’re trying to do.”

How will the half-back line be replenished?

A key focus for Essendon’s coaches has been re-jigging a half-back line that lost line-breakers Adam Saad (Carlton) and Conor McKenna (retired) in the off-season, as well as Orazio Fantasia (Port Adelaide), a part-time half-back last season.

The speedy Hind is an obvious replacement, returning to the position he starred in for the VFL Bombers before a successful stint at St Kilda as a forward.

After playing three games as a small forward in his debut season, Cahill has returned in pristine condition and is adapting quickly to a half-back role.

Like Hind, he’ll bring pace and creativity, while the experienced Heppell will help mould a new-look half-back line.

“I think he (Heppell) can be outstanding for us with his leadership. What he’s been through body-wise, I think that (switch to half-back) may take off the pressure a little bit, rather than being in the cauldron as an inside mid,” Giansiracusa said.

“We’ve got Nick Hind who played half-back in the VFL, so we’ve been shifting his mindset from when he was a forward at the Saints back to that.

“Ned has come back in outstanding shape. He’s going to give himself every chance because he’s really fit and will be able to cover the ground, especially with the new rules and rotations.”

Giansiracusa said he was excited about Cahill’s potential in particular.

“I don’t want to put too much pressure on a guy in his second year, but I’m encouraged by Ned. He’s extremely neat with the footy,” he said.

“I’ve had experience with guys off half-back who have been neat little players, but their ability to defend and set the ground up has been outstanding as well.

“Ned has to continue to assess himself, and we’ll continue to assess him, but as long as he buys into that and knuckles down, we might have a player on our hands there. That’s exciting for the club.”

What’s Giansiracusa’s mission?

This season will mark Giansiracusa’s first in charge of a defence, with the 2020 AFLCA Assistant Coach of the Year coaching every other line during his six seasons at the Western Bulldogs.

A star forward who lined up 265 times for the Bulldogs, Giansiracusa is using his experiences of playing and coaching against the League’s best defences to steer him.

He’s also grateful to have the guidance of senior coach Ben Rutten, who earned All-Australian selection as a full-back in 2005 before coaching Richmond’s defence during its 2017 premiership year.

Together with Rutten, Giansiracusa’s mission is to build a Bomber backline based on trust, chemistry and instinct.

“Playing as a forward and coaching in that space, you get an understanding of what you don’t like from backmen. Bringing that to our players will be important,” he said.

“The thing I’m trying to work on hard with my group individually and collectively is to build relationships. That’s been a main focus for the past few months so I can build that chemistry with them to guide them through what can be challenging times throughout a season.

“Galvanising the group to work as one is the main thing. We play to a system and if we’re working in isolation, it’s not going to work. Building trust in each other through repetition and how we structure our training sessions will give them the best opportunity to feel comfortable when they get out there on game day.

“We’re putting them in challenging scenarios, like when they’re defending in space and have numbers down, and how they can troubleshoot and problem solve. Hopefully once they get out in the heat of the battle, that becomes instinctive and they back their read of the play.”

While there’s plenty of hard work ahead for the new-look defence, Giansiracusa said early signs were positive.

“I’m quite comfortable with where the group is heading. I’ve been impressed with the way they’ve stuck their teeth into things. It’s a hardworking group,” he said.

“If you took a snapshot of where our guys were at pre-Christmas, in early January and now, they’ve taken some really good steps. We’ve got confidence that will transfer into strong performances in games.”

The Bombers' first hitout against opposition will come in a behind-closed-doors practice match against Carlton at Ikon Park on February 25.