Former AFL star Brad Johnson believes Essendon’s list requires some stability around them in order to improve.
After making the top eight the campaign prior, the Bombers slumped to 15th with coach Ben Rutten being sacked as the team finished the season with a 7-15 record.
While both injuries and departing senior players played a part in their downfall in 2022, Johnson was dismayed by the way the team competed.
Despite these shortcomings, the Western Bulldogs great does believe there’s some hope for the future as he was impressed by the development of several younger players.
“They had players come on,” Johnson said on SEN’s Sportsday
“(Archie) Perkins was brilliant, (Sam) Draper showed a fair bit, same with (Jye) Caldwell and Harrison Jones is a player of the future as well, so too Peter Wright up front.
“So, they had enough, even (Jayden) Laverde showed some fight down back and he did a great job at times.
“They found an ability to unleash some younger players in their line-up but overall, they’re just after stability.
“Nic Martin had a fantastic season and Mason Redman was sensational.”
With stability the main thing holding the Bombers back, Johnson feels that new coach Brad Scott could be the man to do that with a group of 10 young players ready to take the club into a new phase.
“All of a sudden we’ve mentioned about 10 names that there that can actually take this club forward with some stability around them,” Johnson explained.
“Stability comes from Brad Scott and the coaching staff and also the broader club once it’s all set up around them.”
Despite being bullish about what Scott can eventually achieve at Tullamarine, Johnson isn’t expecting much from him in his first season in charge.
“No, bottom six,” Johnson said in regard to where he expects Essendon to finish in 2023.
Listen to Johnson’s full preview below.