The Kangaroos were missing Matthew Burton and Leigh Colbert. Essendon was minus Mark Mercuri, Damien Peverill, Steven Alessio, Paul Barnard, Dean Rioli, Dean Solomon, Aaron Henneman and David Hille. All have played a significant amount of senior football. While this obviously had an impact on the final result, to get beaten by in excess of 10 goals was disappointing. The mid-field struggled and the young backline buckled under the pressure.
So is there any silver-lining around the cloud that now hangs over the Bombers? The positive is that Essendon has 33 days to turn things around, to find the form that we know this side is capable of. Given the turn around that sides can produce in the space of a week during the season itself, it is ample time. So let’s no be downcast about the Bombers Wizard Cup performance. Keep in mind that Essendon hasn’t won a pre-season game in the past two seasons – that is six matches – yet has been more than competitive when the real stuff has kicked off.
So what does Essendon need to get right to ensure it is competitive against Brisbane come Round 1? There are many areas. A few questions are going to be asked of people in the coming weeks and the answers will be telling. But no question will be more important than just who it is the Bombers will put at full back against the Lions. Alistair Lynch showed last weekend that he is anything but a spent force – his six goals will have the warning bells ringing in the Essendon football department.
Dustin Fletcher and Mark Bolton will both be serving suspensions and Sam Hunt is injured. Just who can stop Alistair Lynch? Enter Aaron Henneman. Henneman would seem the best option – he has the strength and the leap to trouble Lynch. And his running ability might create Lynch some problems when Essendon has the ball. It is critical that Henneman gets fit and gets some games under his belt in the next three weeks.
And if Henneman can work his way into some form in the next three weeks it might just be the making of his season. A solid performance on Lynch would give him the self-belief that is sometimes missing. He can play the game and Essendon supporters need him to believe that more than ever in the next month. Essendon fans will watch his progress with interest.
Even if he doesn’t get the job, he gives the coaching staff some options. Henneman showed he can be a more than useful pinch hitter in the ruck during last pre-season. He also showed he can take a grab when he goes forward. After a season spent more on the sidelines than on the park in 2002, Henneman has in many ways become the forgotten man. Now more than ever is the time for him to stamp himself as an AFL footballer.
