What is a pass mark for Essendon in 2023?
They are a tough team to grade given they made the eight in 2021, before falling off a cliff in 2022 and firing coach Ben Rutten.
With Brad Scott at the helm, what can we expect from Essendon this season? David King believes they lack a key position player both ends of the ground.
“I keep hearing they’re young and they’re inexperienced. I mean, Dyson Heppell, Jake Stringer, Zach Merrett, Dylan Shiel, Kyle Langford, Darcy Parish, Andrew McGrath… they’ve all played 100+ games,” King told SEN Breakfast.
“There’s enough experience there to guide the way. I think their biggest problem is that they still lack a big-bodied defender.
“When they come up against the likes of Tom Hawkins, Harry McKay, the King brothers, they’re every now – you need a big-bodied full back to handle these guys. They haven’t got that sort of player.
“Then I think their second tall forward option is still a mystery for me. Peter Wright had a fantastic season last year, but who’s the next?
“(Sam Weideman) is the tallest small in the competition. He doesn’t make contact like a big player. He’s not a strong presence full forward. I think they’ve got problems at both ends of the ground.”
David King sees 2023 as a big year for former number one draft pick Andrew McGrath.
The 24-year-old has played 111 career games and been a consistent presence for the Dons across half back and through the midfield, without quite ever breaking out.
“For me this year is about seeing what Andy McGrath is as a footballer. It’s a huge year,” King said.
“He needs to be the reason Essendon wins. He needs to go from a nice-to-have to a player that you say ‘you don’t want him getting the ball’.
“I wonder his footy CV would read if he finished tomorrow. It would be an interesting discussion.”
Kane Cornes agrees, saying McGrath has a lot left to prove at AFL ladder.
“He’s been underwhelming as a number one draft pick. Every time he speaks to the media he sounds so impressive and says the right things, but you watch him play and he picks it up and hacks it,” Cornes said.
“There’s no damage and there’s no substance to the possessions that he wins.
“As impressive as he is off the field, he’s yet to establish himself as even a B-grade footballer yet.”
King and Cornes have both set 10 wins as a pass mark for the Bombers in 2023.
“Seven wins last year, new coach comes in, you sack a coach you must think you’re better than seven wins – I’d be saying 10 would be a pass,” King said.
Cornes: “I have them at 10 as well.”
