MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 07: Michael Hibberd, Patrick Ryder and Jake Carlisle of the Bombers celebrate winning the round 11 AFL match between the Essendon Bombers and the Carlton Blues at Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 7, 2013 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Between the years of 2013 - 2016, Essendon had five separate coaches which were a result from the infamous supplement scandal, in that time they've turned over plenty of players to trades, de-listings and forced additions which were known as 'top-up' players.
All in all, they've done a pretty decent job at keeping big names players at their club, but we've managed to pick out a group of players who could've helped the Bombers collect their first finals win since 2004.
A remarkable story, Crameri was selected deep into the 2009 rookie draft after three seasons with the Bendigo Bombers. In 2011, Crameri showcased his goal-kicking talents leading the club's goal tally with 34 majors. Traded to the Bulldogs for pick #26, Crameri kicked a career-high 37 goals in his first season at the kennel, and played a key role in their forward structure up until he was banned for season 2016.
The most recent out of the eight, Colyer was shipped off to Fremantle in last year's trade period after 87 games spanning across eight seasons for the Bombers. Colyer was never a lock in the Bombers' best 22, so they went to the trade table. The speedy wing-man has played every match for the Dockers so far this season and has improved in nearly every category statistically in comparison to his last two seasons in the red and black.
Essendon's leading goal in 2010 was selected inside the first round back in 2004. After eight seasons and 150 games, and making a claim as one of the game's top small forwards, Monfries informed Essendon of his desire to be traded. In 2013 he debuted for Port Adelaide, playing every game that season for a career-high return of 39 goals, without a doubt reaching the peak of his footballing tenure.
After carving out 85 games and 54 goals with the Bombers as a swingman, Carlisle was traded to St Kilda in October 2015. He was forced to wait a year before putting on the red, white and black as he was part of the 33 banned players from his time at Essendon, but made up for lost time playing every game in 2017 as a defender. A terrific contested mark and defender, Carlisle still has many years left in him if he can get his body right.
The Bombers went early with pick 10 in 2009, after he dominated at TAC Level in his draft year. Someone who could play various positions across the ground, Melksham finished top five in Essendon's best and fairest in season 2013 and played a total of 114 games for the club. A fresh start was the best thing for him, as Melksham now plays as a defensive forward for the Demons and is always dangerous inside 50. The role change in 2018 provided us with some classy goals, as Melksham kicked 32 majors as Melbourne returned to September action. He already has 10 goals from eight games in 2019.
Yet another play who excelled directly after he moved clubs, Hibberd had a stellar first season (2017) at Melbourne earning himself an All-Australian jacket. The defender averaged 27 disposals and seven rebound 50's that year, but hasn't been able to emulate his award-winning season since. Although he's been subject to some purple patches over the years, Hibberd has come a long way since being selected with the fourth pick in the 2011 pre-season draft.
Taken inside the top 10 in the 2005 AFL draft, Ryder was awarded a rising star nomination in Round 1, 2007. Two years later, Ryder won the ANZAC Day medal, highlighting what was to come for the agile, match-winning ruckman. Fast forward eight years, and Ryder had a career-best season for Port Adelaide, staking his claim as the league's best ruckman after winning the club best and fairest to go along with his selection in the All-Australian team. Since his departure in 2014, Essendon has faced issues in the ruck department with several players, if they held onto Ryder who knows what might have happened.
After just four seasons and 26 games, lack of opportunities caused Houli to leave the Bombers for a move to Punt Road, officially becoming a Tiger during the 2010 pre-season draft. The defender has averaged upward of 22 disposals per game ever since joining his second club, and became the first Muslim player to win an AFL premiership playing an integral part in that 2017 campaign.
It's the obvious selection, as he was someone who found plenty of the ball early on in his career, but was ultimately forced out all those years ago in a move that has helped him become one of the league's top running defenders from the past decade.