David Zaharakis
The past decade has been characterised by hope and heartbreak for Essendon.
The drug scandal meant Bomber teams of the early part of the decade never reached their full potential and the club was forced into a brief period of irrelevance in 2016.
The post-saga world for the Bombers has been filled with inconsistency and false hope, currently holding the longest winless finals record in the competition.
Throughout this turmoil, there have been 10 standouts that have stood the test of time.
Here are Essendon's top 10 players of the decade:
Noted as being one of the best gut runners of the modern era, Stanton began his career at Essendon in 2004 and proved to be one of Essendon's best players during the first half of the decade.
Stanton ability to accumulate possessions led to him averaging close to 25 touches a game for much for the first half of the decade.
With this ball winning consistency as well as Stanton's knack for rarely missing many games means that the tireless midfield runner is one of the leader possession winners in Essendon history.
Throughout his career he was able to improve his tackling and ball use, generating a considerable amount of inside 50's in his time.
Now working with Carlton as an assistant, Stanton's work rate is still given legendary status at Essendon and his contributions to big Anzac Day matches were also crucial in his time at the club.
The years Paddy Ryder spent with Essendon during the first half of the decade were some of the best year of elite ruckman work the club has seen.
While initially being thrown into the role on Anzac Day 2009, Ryder proved instrumental that day, winning the Anzac Medal.
As for his work in the 2010s, Ryder's versitility often provided the Dons with a much needed x-factor to break games open.
Using his freakish combination of size, speed and leaping ability, Ryder could out run his fellow ruckmen while being able to out jump smaller defenders if he went forward.
Ryder's snap against Fremantle in Round 4, 2013 won the Bombers a famous victory during a week of tumultuous media speculation amidst the drug saga looming over the club.
Although at times struggling with inconsistency, Ryder's leg combined with his great athletic talents and ruck abilities made him a truly formidable player at the Bombers.
Another famous name at the Bombers, Daniher joined the club in 2013 as a tall, yet skinny forward with high expectations to meet.
Daniher first excited the Bomber faithful with a raking left foot goal from 60 metres against the Gold Coast Suns in 2013.
In his second season, Daniher continued to improve, kicking four goals in Essendon's elimination final loss to the Kangaroos at the MCG.
While at times struggling with set shot inaccuracy, Daniher's marking ability, nose for goal and powerful leg led many to consider him one of the best young forwards in the league.
Daniher's form drastically improved in 2017, a year in which he was selected in the All-Australian team and finished the year with a personal best 65 goals.
Unfortunately, injuries have derailed his last two seasons, however with four club goalkicking awards at the age of 25, Daniher is not a force to be forgotten.
David Zaharakis has been a prominent member of every Essendon season since 2009.
The former Vic Metro prospect grew up a fan of the Bombers and was able to live out a boyhood dream with his first goal in football, winning the game against Collingwood on Anzac Day 2009.
Since then, Zaharakis has consistently been a good outside player in the Bombers midfield for many years, racking up touches and gaining plenty of territory as he drives the Dons forward from the wings.
He won the club best and fairest in 2011 and has since consistently averaged over 20 disposals per game each season since.
Zaharakis's Anzac Day heroics once again occurred in 2013 where he was awarded the Anzac Day medal for a 34-disposal, 4 goal performance.
With 207 games under his belt, his decision making continues to be top class as he leads the Bombers towards September action in 2019.
Zach Merrett joined his younger brother Jackson at the Bombers in 2014, debuting as a substitute against North Melbourne.
Merrett was not caught up in the supplements saga that plagued the club and was able to play during the 2016 season while many Bombers had to serve their suspensions. It was in this season that Merrett turned into a star, averaging just under 30 disposals a game while polling 19 votes in the Brownlow medal count.
Merrett also captained Essendon to a rare win against Gold Coast at Etihad Stadium, becoming the third youngest match day captain in Essendon history.
Merrett has also already received an All-Australian selection in 2017 and won the Essendon Best & Fairest in 2016.
At only 23 years of age, Merrett's ball winning skills and agility are already some of the best in the competition and he will likely be a key piece of the Bombers going forward as he has already been in this decade.
While many may recognise Goddard as a St Kilda champion rather than a Bomber, the former number one pick spent some vintage years at Essendon.
Goddard is a club best and fairest winner and was captain of the Dons during the infamous 2016 season. An elite kick off the half back flank or in midfield, Goddard joined Essendon as a free agent in 2013 before the drug scandal broke.
Goddard immediately stepped up at his new club, speaking on behalf of teams to a rampant media pack when others where often unable to do so.
While playing less as a swingman up forward with the Bombers than he did as a Saint, Goddard averaged 26 disposals a game during his Crichton medal winning season and continued to bring an often lacking poise to the Bombers right up until his final game in 2018.
A big game player, Goddard may well be first remembered for his mark during the later stages of the first Grand Final in 2010, however his contribution and leadership at the Bombers will never be forgotten.
A 192-game player can play at either end of the ground, although many see him as one of the games best defenders.
Once only known as that guy Buddy Franklin ran away from in 2008, Hooker developed into an All-Australian in 2014 alongside teammate Dyson Heppell.
A clean defender with plenty of aerial ability, Hooker's intercept abilities were a cornerstone of the 2014 Bomber side that finished 7th, eventually losing to North Melbourne in the elimination final.
Hooker continues to play with passion and fire for the red and black in whatever role necessary. A right footed snap to beat the Hawks in Round 2 of 2015 ensured he will continue to be a fan favourite as long as his career continues.
While Essendon's list has had certain holes throughout the decade, key position players seem to be one of the clubs strongest areas. Along with long time teammate Cale Hooker, Hurley is also capable of playing at both ends of the ground. However, Hurley has settled into a full back role over the last couple of seasons and made it his own.
A terrific intercept player, Hurley is also noted for his kicking and poise down back while matching up against some of the games best. Last years performance against Lance Franklin reminded the league of his strength and athleticism combined with good decision making.
Without Hurley in the side over the last couple of weeks, the Bombers have suffered big loses to Port Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs at home, showing how crucial the big man is to his team.
Much like Cale Hooker, he cemented himself as a fan favourite by knocking the Hawks out of a finals position in Round 22 2009 after an excellent second half display up forward.
At the age of just 19, Hurley kicked four goals against the reigning premiers, including a goal from outside 50 metres on his non-preferred left foot.
Thanks to the young Hurley and Matthew Lloyd's right shoulder, Essendon made the finals at the expense of their fierce rivals.
Dyson Heppell hit the ground running at Essendon in his debut season of 2011, primarily playing out of defence and helping the Bombers return to finals under the tutelage of James Hird.
Even with the drug saga looming over the team, Heppell continued to improve, moving into midfield and making his first All-Australian side in 2014. Heppell also won the Crichton medal in 2014, helping the Bombers to a positive 7th placed finish under head coach Mark Thompson.
After his suspension during the 2016 season after the doping saga, Heppell's return as captain has demonstrated his calming leadership presence and poised ball winning ability.
The left footer has always looked at home at the Bombers and will likely form a big part of the clubs future as the Dons look to turn their above average list into premiership contenders.
An inspiring leader and presence at the Bombers during the clubs darkest times, Watson's playing days peaked in the early part of the decade. After winning the Brownlow medal in 2012, Watson went on to solidify himself as one of the greatest players of the modern era.
Watson's success was more impressive given the limitations he had as a player. Watson always lacked speed and elite kicking skills, however his strength, vision and poise out shone his flaws.
One of the enduring images of recent Anzac Day fixtures is Essendon's captain escaping the congestion and slotting home from 40 metres on the run at the Punt Road end.
Quite often Watson's stoppage work wouldn't make the highlight reels, as his ability to accumulate in traffic using his size and power did not make for flashy viewing.
However, it was mightily effective as Watson averaged a tick over 27 touches a game from 2010 until 2014, while consistently being voted for as one of the best captains in the league by his peers.
Often at the best of times it is hard for father-son picks to live up to their billing, yet Jobe Watson was one of the few to add to the reputation of his family as one of the classiest acts in the game.