More than 6400 days have passed since Essendon won an AFL final, but there is growing belief that this resurgence at Tullamarine is genuine. Bombers supporters have been let down by a number of false dawns during the past 17 years. Elimination finals defeats in 2009, 2011, 2014, 2016 and 2019 were followed by limp efforts in missing the top-eight the following season. The infamous supplements saga stunted the club's growth for years and Ben Rutten is Essendon's fifth coach since Kevin Sheedy departed in 2007. Their record post-2004 has been a cause of embarrassment for a club celebrating its 150th anniversary this year and still is the equal record-holder for most VFL/AFL premierships. Hierarchy at Essendon are staying level-headed but AFL coaching legend Mick Malthouse believes this group can replicate the 1993 'Baby Bombers' and break through for an unlikely flag. Bombers captain Dyson Heppell laughed off Malthouse's prediction, saying "thanks Mick, no pressure now" but still thinks anything is possible. Essendon surged home in the back-half of last season, before bowing out to eventual grand finalists the Western Bulldogs in another elimination final loss. The club's football boss Josh Mahoney did not bite on Malthouse's prediction, knowing success will not automatically follow the Bombers' 2021 run. "We looked at last season and it was a lot about building some foundations and we were pleased with what we were able to build," Mahoney told AAP. "We saw a lot of players, individually have the best seasons of their careers, our game style starting to develop. "It was certainly a good grounding for us last season but we know there's some massive challenges for us ahead. "Our goals really are to continually to bed down our game style, have a way we want to play that people can identify with. The history of our club is really important and it's been really embraced by Ben (Rutten) as senior coach and the players. "Last year, we started to look a lot more into what has made Essendon a great club for a long period of time. "It's not the driver for us this year but it's certainly something that we're going to embrace the whole way through." If they are to continue their rise up the ladder, Essendon will need the dynamic Jake Stringer to back-up his exceptional season. Stringer produced a scintillating end to 2021 where he became one of the AFL's most damaging players. The 27-year-old's off-season has been mixed, with a groin injury threatening to keep him out of the Bombers' enticing round-one clash with Geelong. But Mahoney is expecting Stringer to play and give the Cats a giant headache. "He's been able to do full training this past week, he's had a good period pre-Christmas and this month so he's got a good base behind him," he said. The future is more unclear for exciting forward Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, who took personal leave earlier this year to deal with some off-field issues. The 28-year-old has now returned to the club but is well behind in his conditioning to play at AFL level. His absence in the early part of the season will leave a hole in the Bombers' forward line. There is no timeline on when McDonald-Tipungwuti might return to play. "He's just building his fitness base, starting to get in a bit of training over the next few weeks, then when he's at a certain level he'll play some games," Mahoney said. Veteran defender Michael Hurley is another key Bomber to be sidelined. The 31-year-old missed the entire 2021 season due to a hip infection that forced him into hospital. A potential Hurley comeback would be an inspiration for all at the Bombers The guys are really appreciating him being out there as a player but he's been contributing off the field as a coach for our VFL program," Mahoney said. "The playing group is excited to see him improving and getting better all the time and getting closer to potentially playing again for the club." Australian Associated Press
