With season 2004 hanging on by a hair, coach Sheedy has made a public pledge to play the kids – to let them loose and see what they’re made of during the run home to the finals. It would seem that such a policy would have the total support of the Essendon supporter base who clearly recognise that generational change is almost upon the club. Reports David Thurling in his latest ‘Fan in the Outer’ column.

There can be no doubt that players such as James Hird, Dustin Fletcher, Sean Wellman, Mark Mercuri and Joe Misiti are all into the twilight of their superb careers. There is about 1,000 games of AFL experience amongst that lot, and within the next year or so likely to be gone forever. The planning that is needed to avoid a Carlton like experience vacuum is now vital. Fortunately, Essendon has invested a great deal of planning into recruiting young talent through the draft and is therefore well placed to go forward without the same dire results that struck down the once mighty Carlton Football Club.

It is therefore imperative that Sheeds fulfills his commitment to youth by giving them appropriate exposure to senior football as a part of their tuition. Over the next five weeks most Essendon supporters will be looking for clear signs that the future will be bright. This is a club that doesn’t accept failure easily and all fans are hoping that rebuilding means nothing worse than a low top eight position. Thus far there is a fair bit to get excited about.

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