Essendon fans would be well-accustomed to how seasons over the past decade have generally panned out.
The side traditionally started slowly before clawing their way back into finals contention by the end of the season to eventually crash out in the first week of September after generally finishing either 7th or 8th.
The last time they finished higher than 7th? Way back in 2002.
Heavy defeats against West Coast (in 2019), Sydney (in 2018) and Carlton (in 2011) all would continue to sting those inside the club but that only should provide added motivation to right the wrongs of the past and make the most of the shorter and sharper 2020 season.
The three-month hiatus due to COVID-19 pandemic arguably benefitted Essendon more than any other side.
It allowed the likes of Dyson Heppell, Cale Hooker and Devon Smith to put together an extended training block as they recovered from various injury issues. And that’s not even taking into account Joe Daniher, who if some reports are to believed, is only weeks away from returning to senior action.
It may only be two rounds in but the next two weeks are season-defining for the Bombers, who are now presented with an opportunity to capitalise on their uncharacteristically strong start and lay a platform to make a deep finals run.
A pair of scrappy six-point wins in Rounds 1 and 2 may not look impressive on the face of it but with Melbourne on Sunday and then Carlton the week after, the Bombers haven’t had a better chance in a long time to win their opening four matches.
The last time they did that? 2013.
It’s fair to say things have changed a bit since that season, both for the games itself and even more so for Essendon.
There’s also signs of improvement from the Bombers’ midfield, a part of the ground that has frankly let them down all too often in previous seasons.
It’s a point which Essendon great Tim Watson made on SEN Breakfast this week, noting the gradual building of a young midfield group which has taken place in previous season.
“Zach Merrett was taken at pick 26, Dylan Shiel cost them pick nine and a future first-round pick, Andrew McGrath who’s pick one and Darcy Parish was pick five,” he said this week.
“They’re starting to get the return on that investment.
“Andy McGrath into the midfield in Round 1, his pre-season form and his Round 1 form and again on Sunday, he was just superb.”
Make no mistake about it, this is a side that has routinely underperformed in recent times but what the League shutdown has allowed the Bombers to do is reset and come back with an almost clean bill of health, something they haven’t always had the luxury to do in recent times.
They are also preparing to welcome back both Conor McKenna and Orazio Fantasia in the coming weeks, who didn’t play in Sydney last Sunday.
It’s still only early days in season 2020 but the facts are these: Essendon will start both Sunday afternoon’s clash against Melbourne and the following Saturday night’s match against Carlton as favourites.
A 17-game season means clubs will likely need either 10 wins or nine with a good percentage to make finals.
If Essendon can capitalise on the seismic opportunity that’s opened up in the next fortnight against two sides they really should beat, they’ll be almost halfway towards already securing a finals spot with 13 games left.
They can then rightly set their sights on finishing higher than the lower rungs of the eight and opening themselves up to another painful finals exit.
It may only be a few rounds in but the next fortnight will be telling for John Worsfold’s men and their 2020 hopes.