Assistant Coach Nathan Bassett has predicted a big season ahead for young forward Joe Daniher as the first round draft selection enters his second year in the AFL system.

Daniher played five games during his first season highlighted by a three-goal haul against Gold Coast in Round 12.

Bassett said he expected the 19-year-old to continue his development during the 2014 season.

“It normally takes two or three years for the key position players to show how good they can be at AFL level but I saw him play under 18’s and he is an outstanding talent,” Bassett said.

“The ones that are excellent get there quicker, I think Riewoldt was a very good player by his second year and I think Daniher has that potential.”

“Next season whether he gets there or not I think he is going to get there eventually.”

Bassett takes over as forward line coach in 2014 from Matthew Egan who will be looking after the club’s defensive group.

The new forward line coach said he was still learning about what his new role entails.

“It is all new as I am used to doing everything so it will be nice to specialise a little bit and be working with a core group of nine to ten players,” he said.

“To look after the forwards and look at how we move the ball will be my focuses.”

Despite losing Stewart Crameri and Scott Gumbleton during the off-season Bassett remains confident in the ability of the club’s forward line to function smoothly.

“Obviously there is Hurley and Carlisle, which one goes forward I think is still being worked out at this stage,” he said.

“It will be good to have some more experienced guys like Chapman and Winderlich around that group for others to learn from.”

“The forward line will be not quiet as deep as it was last year losing Gumbleton and Crameri but the draft is coming up and we still have some elite talent there which is very handy.”

Bassett is enthusiastic about the direction the Bombers are heading and how the player group handled the off-field challenges of 2013.

“To stay up, be competitive and good for as long as they were with the external pressures was very impressive.”

“The club has a good list with a couple of senior players and some outstanding junior talent there."

“I will be lucky enough to work with some of those guys in the forward line so there is plenty to get excited about for Essendon moving forward.”