Essendon will look to reap the benefits of a trying 2025 campaign that forced the club to debut a record 15 players, with the new season hopefully giving Bombers fans a glimpse of what a full fit list might look like.
While a large contingent of senior players will be back for Round 1, Nic Martin won't feature this year due to an ACL setback, however the timing of his year-ending diagnosis gives Brad Scott a significant window to plan without the outside ball winner.
Minor list changes via the trade period and a busy draft window have given Essendon a profile that will have some believing they can contend for a Wildcard spot at the very least.
A new ruckman will take their chance, while the Dons will be keen to uncover the right key forward mix after several seasons of change.
With all of that in mind, let's take a look at what Essendon's best 23 might look like...
Forwards
The attacking third has been Essendon's weakness for some time, with the Bombers having lacked consistency from their talls and real firepower at ground level for some time.
Heading into his second season, Isaac Kako will look to aid the latter concern, bringing spark and defensive pressure as a small forward.
Matt Guelfi continues to be limited by injury, and could see his spot in the senior side contested by rookies Sullivan Robey or Hussien El Achkar, while Perkins and Gresham will also face some selection pressure.
The Bombers won't be short on picking tall forwards, but Nate Caddy is perhaps the only lock. Langford should slot into a third tall role after a year mostly spent on the sidelines, leaving Peter Wright, Liam McMahon, Archer May and the aforementioned Jones as others in the mix.
Both May and McMahon impressed after being recruited mid-season last year, and it could come down to one of them as the tall forward target alongside Caddy and Langford.
Wright could be favoured given the new five-player interchange, with his role as a pinch-hitting ruckman increased in value.
