IT may have only been their second season in existence, but 2023 was a big year for Essendon. The Bombers made finals for the first time, and although they only made it to the first week before losing out to Essendon, it was still a big step forward for one of the competition’s newest sides.

Now heading into 2024 and after some very targeted recruiting, can the red and black make an even deeper run into the finals this time around?

TEAM LIST

#1 Emily Gough

#2 Georgia Gee

#3 Daria Bannister

#4 Madison Prespakis

#5 Georgia Nanscawen

#6 Maddison Gay

#7 Kodi Jacques

#8 Bonnie Toogood

#9 Brooke Walker

#10 Jacqui Vogt

#11 Brooke Sheridan

#12 Bess Keaney

#13 Lily-Rose Williamson

#14 Ellyse Gamble

#15 Chloe Adams

#16 Matilda Dyke

#17 Georgia Clarke

#19 Mia Van Dyke

#20 Stephanie Cain

#22 Amelia Radford

#23 Amy Gaylor

#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

SQUAD CHANGES

In: Emily Gough, Maddi Gay, Brooke Sheridan, Bess Keaney, Chloe Adams, Amy Gaylor

Out: Danielle Marshall, Alana Barba, Joanne Doonan, Leah Cutting, Jess Wuetschner, Renee Tierney, Catherine Phillips

FIXTURE

Match 1: August 31 vs Fremantle at Windy Hill

Match 2: September 7 vs West Coast at Mineral Resources Park  

Match 3: September 15 vs St Kilda at Windy Hill

Match 4: September 22 vs Adelaide at Thomas Farms Oval, Unley

Match 5: September 27 vs Melbourne at Windy Hill

Match 6: October 2 vs Syndey at Whitten Oval

Match 7: October 6 vs Gold Coast at People First Stadium

Match 8: October 11 vs Western Bulldogs at Whitten Oval

Match 9: October 20 vs North Melbourne at Windy Hill

Match 10: October 26 vs Richmond at TIO Stadium

Match 11: TBC vs Carlton at Ikon Park

QUESTIONS TO PONDER

Can they go further into finals?

Making finals for the first time last season was a big step, but can they go even deeper into finals in 2024 than just the first week? They seemingly have the squad to do it, but will that eventuate?

How will the defence look?

The one thing that has arguably been Essendon’s biggest weakness so far in its history has been its defence, but after some targeted recruiting in the offseason, how will the likes of Maddi Gay, Bess Keaney and Brooke Sheridan fit into the side, what kind of impact will they have and how will the rest of defenders fit around them?

PLAYER TO WATCH

Brooke Sheridan

Sheridan finds herself with a second chance at her dream, after she was let go by Brisbane but then picked up by the Bombers after Catherine Phillips’ retirement.

She comes into what will be a pretty new look Essendon back line, and is a very handy small defender in her own right but will she slot right in and be able to truly make the most of this second opportunity?

PREDICTION

Last season Essendon took a massive step forward in their development by making the finals in only its second season in existence.

Now that Essendon has proven it can made the finals, this needs to be the bare minimum again in order to keep their development going, and realistically this should be doable considering they have now strengthened their biggest area of weakness.

How far the Bombers can go remains to be seen though. They will be better for the experience having made finals last year, but how do they counter sides with much more extensive finals experience then their own?