Essendon are looking to the model that has seen Sydney star Isaac Heeney commence his 2024 campaign as one of the premier players in the competition when it comes to their own midfield-forward hybrid talent in Archie Perkins.
Perkins pieced together a best-afield outing against Hawthorn on Saturday, collecting 24 disposals, eight clearances, nine score involvements, nine contested possessions, 12 tackles and two goals in the win.
The game saw Perkins flourish with an increase in midfield minutes, working in tandem with skipper Zach Merrett and inside ball winner Will Setterfield to give his side the upper hand at the contest.
Heeney, too, has seen a lift in midfield reliance to start the season, with the half-forward among the Swans' best performers across the first two games in the absence of senior trio Callum Mills, Taylor Adams and Luke Parker.
While Scott understands Perkins won't be putting up the numbers Heeney has been on a weekly basis, the Bombers coach said it's a good path for the former top ten draft selection to follow.
"I heard John Longmire talking about Isaac Heeney, he's an All-Australian forward and he's clearly dominating through the midfield," Scott said post-game.
"'Perk's got a fair way to go to replicate what Isaac's doing, but he's a similar type in terms of we really like him forward, but we really like him in the midfield too."
Essendon will take on Sydney at the SCG in Round 2, with both sides heading into the encounter undefeated after strong early stages to their respective 2024 campaigns.
The Bombers could have star midfielder Darcy Parish back from a hamstring injury that ruled him out of the Dons' season opener, while ruckman Sam Draper got through a VFL hitout against Box Hill on Saturday unscathed.
With or without Parish, Scott hopes to achieve greater flexibility through his midfield group, an aspect of Sydney's game that has proven to be a difference-maker in their wins over Melbourne and Collingwood this year.
In addition to Heeney, the likes of James Rowbottom, Errol Gulden, Tom Papley, Chad Warner, and Justin McInerney have proven to have an impact outside of the engine room.
"There are so many plans, it just depends how the game's going at different stages. We're trying to build flexibility through our midfield," Scott added.
"Our opponent next week in Sydney are a pretty good example of that. They've got a couple of experienced players out but they've still got great flexibility through that space.
"What we're trying to do is build flexibility so that at different stages of the game we can pull different levers."
Essendon make the trip to the Harbour City next week to face the Swans on Saturday at 7:30pm (AEDT).
