Due to Essendon's poor run with injury in 2008, a number of Essendon players were given games ahead of schedule.
In this week's poll we ask which of five developing Bombers you think will play the most games in 2009?
Last week we asked whether fans would play Lucas, Lloyd, Neagle and Gumbleton together in 2009 and 79.1% said 'yes', 14.4% voted 'no' and 6.5% chose 'maybe'.
This is what some of the fans had to say.
Lachlan from Sunbury says: I think it is a great idea. Not many AFL teams will sport enough tall defenders to cover them in the one match, leading to many goals for the four forwards.
Nathan from Sunbury says: Yes, you bet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Greg Bland from Singapore says: I don't think they can all play inside 50m at the same time but if they can rotate in and out of the forward 50 it will work fine. Lucas and Lloyd have two seasons of quality foot ball, maybe 3 at a pinch, so Neagle and Gumbleton have to play if we are to have a succession plan in place.
Rob from Reservoir says: Gumbleton played as a tall wingman in a VFL and had 20 touches to 1/2 time before his collarbone injury. I'd like to see him develop into more of an Adam Goodes or Richo of last year type player.
Graham Flynn from Essendon says: I'm happy with the four of them in the side, but not necessarily all in the forward line. That will obviously depend on match-ups, etc, but Matty Lloyd is moving further up the ground and Scotty can play back if necessary. I want to see Gumbleton at centre half forward and Neagle at full forward or thereabouts.
Tom from Beaumaris says: Pushing Scotty Lucas back into the centre half back position until Hurley is capable of holding a key position would be an idea. We all know Scott played some ripping footy back in defence. It will also help Fletch like big Mal did last year. Our small forwards are just as important as the big guys so we need to get the balance right.
Neil Poyner from South Australia says: With the tall forwards we would worry other sides and drag tall opponents from other positions, and maybe throw their game plan out.
Joseph Attard from Taylors Hill says: I would play all of them together for sure. The benifits of this would be huge. It would take a good, even a legendary defence line to line-up against the star power of Lloyd and Lucus combined with the big, tall and up and comers Neagle and Gumby.
Daniel Murphy from Brisbane, Q'ld says: Why not play four talls in the forward arc? The midfielders should act as small forwards! Let's think outside the square. Forget old fashioned convention, be innovative, let's win games unconventionally.
Nick Holdsworth from Melbourne says: I wouldnt play all four of them together maybe three at max because to play four means to drop two smaller guys who crumb the missed marks or lessen our midfield because we cant take them from the backline. So which small forwards do we drop for this becaus they aren't going to mark the ball everytime and also they all aren't fast enough to be defensive and put pressure on when the team opposition is rebounding. So as good as it sounds I say only play three at the most.
utah40 from Vermont South says: No chance that would work, it's too slow and it's silly to even consider just on defensive pressure alone especially with our midfield. The last thing they need is the ball rebounding out of our f50 at speed as there not accountable...we don't want any more 10 to 20 goal hidings..!go dons.
Geoff Cliff from Victoria says: The chances of all four tall forwards playing together are realistically close to zero. The chronically injured Neagle and Gumbleton struggle to even get on the park at any level, so its extremely unlikely that both would simultaneously line up along side Lloyd and Lucas.
