FINISHING the highest of the four Season 7 expansion sides, Bombers fans had plenty to cheer about from an inaugural season standpoint. Though it should not come as any surprise given the quality the Bombers loaded up on – both experienced and youth – Essendon still came through with the goods to win four matches and boast a healthy percentage of 98.6.

Ultimately they were still 10 points adrift of the top eight, but with a full preseason behind them and some extra depth added, the red and black will be a side other teams worry about in Season 8 and beyond. We take a look at how the Bombers are shaping up this year.

TEAM LIST

#2 Georgia Gee
#3 Daria Bannister
#4 Madison Prespakis
#5 Georgia Nanscawen
#6 Danielle Marshall
#7 Kodi Jacques
#8 Bonnie Toogood
#9 Brooke Walker
#10 Jacqui Vogt
#11 Alana Barba
#12 Joanne Doonan
#13 Lily-Rose Williamson
#14 Ellyse Gamble
#16 Matilda Dyke
#17 Georgia Clarke
#18 Leah Cutting
#19 Mia Van Dyke
#20 Stephanie Cain
#21 Jess Wuetschner
#22 Amelia Radford
#23 Renee Tierney
#24 Sophie Alexander
#25 Alex Morcom
#26 Ashleigh Van Loon
#27 Sophie Van De Heuvel
#28 Mia Busch
#30 Stephanie Wales
#32 Paige Scott
#33 Amber Clarke
#36 Brooke Brown

CHANGES

In: Brooke Walker, Brooke Brown, Kodi Jacques, Georgia Nanscawen (inactive), Matilda Dyke, Leah Cutting
Out: Eloise Ashley-Cooper (inactive), Jorja Borg (inactive), Caitlin Sargent, Meg Ryan, Frederica Frew, Jordan Zanchetta, Bella Ayre, Olivia Barton

FIXTURE

Round 1: vs. Hawthorn @ Kinetic Stadium
Round 2: vs. St Kilda @ Windy Hill
Round 3: vs. Adelaide @ Wigan Oval
Round 4: vs. Fremantle @ Windy Hill
Round 5: vs. Collingwood @ AIA Centre
Round 6: vs. Geelong @ Reid Oval
Round 7: vs. Richmond @ Ikon Park
Round 8: vs. West Coast @ Windy Hill
Round 9: vs. Carlton @ Windy Hill
Round 10: vs. Gold Coast @ Great Barrier Reef Arena

STRENGTHS

• Ruck depth

• Bolstered experience in defence

• Scoring power

• Favoured draw

Essendon has a lot to like about its Season 8 chances, addressing some of the issues that perhaps left the Bombers come up short in Season 7. Ranked 17th in hitouts, Essendon went out and picked up Leah Cutting and Matilda Dyke, both readymade options with good strength and can win the ball around the ground. The pair will team up with Steph Wales as the ruck options, and all of a sudden the Bombers have some reliable options in that area.

Along with the ruck inclusions, bringing in Brooke Brown, Brooke Walker and Kodi Jacques, all of whom bring experience from other clubs. Importantly, the inclusion of Brown and Walker in particular will add vital experience to a very young defensive lineup last year, where the majority of players were still learning the craft themselves.

Up the other end of the field, Bonnie Toogood lead the forwardline well, with Daria Bannister, Paige Scott and Sophie Alexander all dangerous. Scott is one of a number of young guns coming through the club and will provide some incredible highlights over the years.

Along with the added depth around the ground, the Bombers have received a favourable draw, avoiding grand finalists Melbourne and Brisbane, and only leaving Victoria twice. Playing rivals such as Collingwood, Richmond and Carlton will get the red and black up and about as well.

QUESTION MARKS

• Consistency is key

• Can they progress from “honourable losses” to wins?

Essendon seems to have a well-balanced list and there are not too many flaws. Last season defence was a massive question mark and hurt them against the top-end teams such as Brisbane and Melbourne who had strong midfields and forwardlines. When winning the midfield, the Bombers could play the game on their terms, and that will be key again. But not having lapses in certain quarters is vital for progression as there were a few times they let it slip.

Last year, the Bombers were very impressive against a number of senior teams, only just going down to Carlton (one point), Richmond (two), Collingwood (11) and Geelong (15), but at the end of the day, had just the four wins. Those wins came against the three other expansion sides, and West Coast, the lowest of the existing sides. If Essendon can turn those narrow losses into wins in Season 8, watch out.

BEST & FAIREST CONTENDER

Past league best and fairest winner Madison Prespakis is the player to watch in this category. Having already been bestowed the honour, the gun midfielder has enormous potential to now grow with this group and try and lift them into finals contention. More than capable of hitting the scoreboard as well as finding the ball with ease, Prespakis is a genuine star of the competition.

BREAKOUT PLAYER

Top 10 selection Amber Clarke is one to watch in Season 8. The electrifying speedster had some nice moments, but ultimately did not quite capture the form she would have liked in Season 7. Her fellow top 10 pick Scott was inconsistent but dominated the scoreboard on her day, and in Season 8, expect Clarke to be the one that steals some limelight. She has the capacity to burn off opponents with ease and hit the scoreboard herself.

PREDICTION

Essendon is a dark horse in the finals race, and should be further improved off its inaugural season. The Bombers are arguably not quite in the premiership frame just yet, but in a two to three seasons should be closer to taking over from the established teams. Still, the signs are promising at Tullamarine.