It is a very difficult call the Essendon match committee is going to have to make at some stage this pre-season. They will test all the options and often it will simply be a matter of who is the best match up. But the bottom line is that one player is going to spend far more time there than others and that person will be a key to the Bombers’ chances in 2006.
Kepler Bradley would be clear favorite at this stage. He started the season at centre half back last season and did exceptionally well early before fatigue set in and his confidence began to fall away. It isn’t an uncommon occurrence for a player in just his second season of senior football. Bradley basically played every minute of every pre-season game going into last season – he improved dramatically but ultimately it took its toll.
Reports from the coaching staff suggest his endurance has improved in the off season as has his kicking. With three pre-seasons under his belt you would think we are about to see the best of this young man and it may well be at centre half back. If he can hold down the key defensive post it will be an enormous boost for the Club.
Again the age-old question will re-surface at some stage – should Scott Lucas play forward or back. He has been sensational at both ends of the ground at different stages during his career and arguably could have been named the All Australian centre half back two seasons ago.
But it is the robbing Peter to pay Paul argument. He was clearly Essendon’s most effective forward in 2005 and he finished the season with 51 goals – the only other time he has cracked the 50-goal mark was in 2000 when he kicked 57 as the Bombers steamrolled the opposition to win the flag. He can be a match winner up forward and if he isn’t dominating, he is taking out one of the best opposition defenders. You would think Lucas would be of most value lurking across the forward 50m.
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Dean Solomon might be the other option. He has had one of his best pre-seasons for the club and at 188cm and 100kg he has the right build to hold down centre half back. He also has excellent agility so physically he has what it takes to do the job.
Solomon also has a track record that suggests he can handle centre half back. He has soundly beaten Richmond star Matthew Richardson in the past and more than held his own against Warren Tredrea. With Essendon’s mid-field stocks on the improve he won’t be required to provide as much grunt around the midfield and perhaps centre half back is the place for him.
Aaron Henneman is another with the size to do the job. He is a power athlete and he has held down centre half back in some very good Essendon sides of the past. His endurance has improved and he recently recorded a 14.5 beep test result – an excellent result for a player of his size.
He has been let down by his body in recent seasons and that will be the key to his season. He needs to have the confidence in his body to get the job done and the signs thus far are good. Some Essendon fans have been quick to criticise him in recent seasons but with luck on his side, he might just be ready to prove some people wrong.
The centre half back ‘smokey’ might be Courtney Johns. The big fellow has had his best pre-season ever which is hardly surprising given he has now rid himself of his debilitating hip problem. He is big enough and moves well enough to play centre half back.
He played in that position during a scratch match last Wednesday and he was one of the stars suggesting him playing there at some stage during the season is not beyond the realms of possibility.
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