May I say this about the Mighty Bombers?

Early days mate... still got what? 18 more rounds/matches to go?

You can't rely on playing on emotion (Crows, Dockers) or big games (Anzac Day Match) to get you over the line. Eventually you're gonna need your own reason to win a game. That reason has to come from within. It has to come from internal drive and desire, it has to be a reason unto itself. And then you have to balance that up with some good fortune (no injuries and/or injury depleted sides) and consistent good footy.

Has that been demonstrated yet? Ans = NO! Still too early to say. I would want to see how they go against Geelong in two weeks time on Friday night before I make any calls (but then again why would I be so stupid as to make a call when I can simply wait and see how things pan out?!)

I say Essendon have been impressive so far, but then again, so have Port, so have Richmond and so have Geelong, so too Sydney and of course so too the Hawks. There's 5 teams Essendon has yet to play against!

Chris, last year 2 teams excited me for the direction they were headed.... Bombers and Suns.

It was all about the series of balances needed to put the squad of 30 odd through 22+ games and to make the final 4.

Those balances include the right balance of experience & youth, line-up flexibility to cover injuries, positional flexibility, reliance on the "unit of the day" as opposed to "keys", a balance of options from play style to goal kickers to rucks.... to mention a few. And above all a belief in each other and the "unit" and in cohesion.

During a season, each team reveals its Achilles Heel, its weakness, be it depth, youth, goal kickers, ruckmen, contested possessions. transition, conversion inside 50's etc etc, but Hird seems to have all of the balances working in unison and that bodes well for an exceptional season.

Suns are on the same track but a bit behind. It takes time....

For the last 2 seasons Essendon have been the front runners of the comp. but as they got near the old Chiquita lodge part of the course. there was no petrol left in the tank. so consequently failed to finish out the footy season journey.

April champions at best are the peptide Bombers. they have the rest of the season to prove most of us wrong.

Cheers.

Goddard has been a huge in for the Dons, he frees up Stanton and Heppell and can really deliver the footy, look to have of depth this year as there are a lot of good players in the Magoos who can't get a run, letsbhopemthe wheels don't fall off this year

Wait until they come up against some more decent sides. Really of the wins they have had so far, only today's win and the win against an under manned Fremantle side in Perth have been against decent opposition, the rest have been gimme wins against pretty ordinary teams. Wait until they come up against more top 8 sides before considering them that. Had Hawthorn played all the same sides as Essendon, they would be unbeaten and have over 200.00 as the percentage.

Interesting thoughts. The Crows' cheer squad looks like the bridal party at a Leper's wedding. True?

They played well and thoroughly outplayed the Magpies today. They should get a top 8 finish, maybe better. But this may be dependent on any other outcomes.

essendon supporters said this last year. and what happened? we cant blame injuries, so you cant either.