There is a genuine feeling of excitement around Essendon Football Club as season 2004 approaches. The club has traded and drafted well and personal best performances are being racked up by the players in fitness testing. This, combined with the club's excellent second half of season 2003, has everyone feeling confident something big could be just around the corner. And the Bomber faithful know it - Essendon's membership has already exceeded 21,000 and is up about 3000 on the same time last year.

Yesterday's time trial at Princes Park re-inforced just how hard the players are working. There was some noteable personal bests in the run - none were more important than the times recorded by Jason Johnson and Matthew Lloyd. Both players were well in side their previous best times and that augurs well for the Bombers. Johnson is critical to the Essendon midfield and to have him fully fit and firing at this time of year will warm the hearts of all Essendon supporters. 

So the troops are rallying on and off the field.

Membership numbers dropped by about 3,000 in 2003 but supporters have jumped on board in the early part of the 2004 campaign. On-line membership sales for both renewals and new memberships are also up significantly and the club is hopeful of returning to the days of 35,000-plus members that were attracted in 2001 and 2002. The may yet challenge Collingwood as the club with the most members in season 2004. There is nothing worse than losing to Collingwood, so the challange has been laid squarely at the feet of Essendon supporters.

Click here to renew or purchase your 2004 Essendon membership.