Essendon will be looking to continue their surge up the AFL ranks in 2018, after a remarkable run was overshadowed by a dominant Sydney in the Elimination Final last year.
For a club stuck in controversy since the drugs saga in 2012, it has since re-branded its club, and become a destination club for all players, by playing an electrifying brand of football.
It is a remarkable turnaround for a club riddled with controversy for the best part of the last decade.
While house hold names like Jobe Watson, Brent Stanton and Dustin Fletcher have come and gone, it is the new batch of stars, like Joe Daniher, Zach Merrett, Andrew McGrath and captain, Dyson Heppell leading the young list to glory.
However, it wasn't only the on-field recruiting that they excelled in the off-season. Poaching Football Administrator, Dan Richardson from Richmond, the noise surrounding Tullamarine is loud, and the Bombers are keen to ride the wave, but ride their own no one else's.
โYou take some learnings from wherever you go and I have learnt a lot from Richmond and the people there,โ Richardson told the Herald Sun.
โBut that said I donโt believe you can just try to copy what someone else has done. You have to forge your own path.
โYou need to form your own brand and way of doing things, thatโs what any good organisation does. There is no point trying to follow what someone else has done before you or you will continually be in their shadow.
โOne of the things Richmond learnt was that you allow a team and the players in that team to play to their strengths, whatever they may be.
โWe particularly learnt that in the past 12 months.โ
After a dominant era from Hawthorn from 2008-2015, we have seen now two years consecutively, a team adapt a brand of football that is coherent with everyone, and one that is sustainable for 26 weeks of football.
In recent times, the game plan has revolved around minimising the weakness of your team, rather than playing a style that expands your strengths.
In 2016, the Dogs were able to land their second premiership in history, by being slick ball movers, using the pace from defensive midfield and half-back and applying immense pressure around the ground.
Richmond in 2017 were able to put a twist on that philosophy, focusing on their forward half pressure, not being slick with the ball, however always creating a contest, in the air and on the ground, as well as commitment to the next contest.
Both philosophies have been defensive on the field, and attacking throughout the whole contest.
In 2016, the Bulldogs conceded just the third-least points per game, and were only 12th in the league for points scored.
In 2017, Richmond had much the same outcomes, finishing eighth in scoring, and conceding the third least amount of points per game.
But for Essendon, their ability to counter attack from defence is superior, with their burst of speed through the middle, and class in the backline and on the wings, allowing the likes of Daniher space in the forward 50 to launch at the ball.
Add this to the inclusion of former Sun, Adam Saad across the half-back line, Jake Stringer into a forward/rotating midfield role, using his strength and acceleration from contest and Devon Smith's calmness in tight situations, this list is a contender for 2018.
Speedster Travis Colyer however still remains in a moonboot, with inflammation of the sesamoid bone for a further three weeks, while Aaron Francis, who was keen to head back home in the off-season, is still nursing a hip-flexor complaint.
Apart from those two, the medical ward looks great for the Bombers, with Michael Hurley [hip, wrist], Josh Green [foot] and David Myers [finger], all look ready to go before the beginning of their 2018 season.
Their AFLX campaign will take place in Melbourne on 16th February, against the Hawks and St. Kilda, before travelling to Wangarrata to face the reigning premiers, Richmond, and then heading to Colac to face the Cats.
Essendon will take on the defeated Grand Finalist from a season ago, Adelaide, in a Friday night blockbuster at Etihad Stadium, March 23, to kick off their 2018 season.
