Wounded Bombers brace after ‘unprecedented’ season
Murray Wenzel |
Brad Scott has flagged months of sifting through the ashes of Essendon’s “unprecedented” AFL season that ended with more injuries and a historic thumping.
The Bombers were beaten 23.15 (153) to 8.10 (58) on the Gold Coast in Wednesday’s rescheduled Opening Round fixture.
Their 13th-straight loss came with 15 on the injury list and was the Suns’ biggest win in club history.
Victory also locked in a maiden finals berth for the Suns.
Matt Guelfi (calf) and Todd Goldstein (concussion) were further casualties for Essendon, Scott finishing the game with Lachlan Blakiston in the ruck and teenagers Isaac Kako and Archie Roberts as inside midfielders.
“That was inconceivable at the start of the year,” said the coach at the conclusion of a season in which he debuted 15 players.
“It’s been an unprecedented season, but we look to keep improving our list and give players exposure that wouldn’t have got it otherwise.
“There’s a chance that holds us in good stead, but it’s not guaranteed.”
He said the likelihood of at least four draftees arriving at the club meant “eight or nine” players could be delisted.
That includes veteran midfielder Dylan Shiel, who had 28 touches and three clearances on Wednesday.
“We aren’t going to be in a position to announce too many changes in the short term,” Scott said.
“We’re going to have to go through a whole lot of scenarios over the next couple of months.
“We’ve had to be creative … when your team is not on autopilot, that’s when you’ve got to do your best work.
“That’ll hold us in good stead but that won’t do it for us.
“We’ve got to look to improve our list and not just rely on injured players coming back.”
Scott said the future of injured big man Sam Draper remained “unknown” as he tosses up a potential move to join flag contenders Adelaide and Brisbane as an unrestricted free agent.
“We’re doing everything we can to create the big picture for him,” he said.
“This is the age of free agency. Players have got to weigh things up and clearly he’s torn, otherwise he would have made a decision by now.”
AAP
