The Replacements

6 down, 4 to go for the Essendon Football Club in its search of adequate replacements for the loss of 12 players to the drug saga for the 2016 AFL season.

Looking at the current crop of replacements from a like for like perspective identifies where the Bombers will most likely be focussing their efforts with their last 4 top-up players.

The story so far and how the Bombers have faired:

Ryan Crowley: Ready made replacement for Heath Hocking, despite spending all of 2015 on the sidelines due to his own drug suspension Crowley is one of the hardest trainers in the AFL and the most annoying tagger. Despite his age (31) Crowley is arguably an upgrade on Hocking and could be a very handy inclusion for this young Essendon midfield.

James Kelly: Essendon were always going to find it hard to replace the skills and leadership of Jobe Watson and Dyson Heppell, considered two of the premier midfielders in the AFL. However, a highly experienced James Kelly offers a bit of what each Watson and Heppell provided the team and can help the younger brigade with great leadership. The big question over Kelly is after slowing down so much in 2015 at Geelong does he have what it takes to play a strong season or will his age (32) result in further decline in performance in 2016?

Matthew Dea: As a Richmond supporter myself I know Matty Dea quite well and I was always a supporter of his to have more game time for the Tigers. Well that never came and despite winning the VFL best and fairest for Richmond, Dea was placed on the scrap heap. Although there are some questions over his skill level he is a strong defender who will improve significantly if given the opportunity to take over Michael Hibberds role at Essendon. I would say Dea is probably the best player available to fill Hibberds role, and despite rumours he was headed for the police force it appears Dea was lured to play another year of AFL.

Jonathan Simpkin: There's not a lot to say about Simpkin aside from he is an experienced senior player that will offer great leadership to Essendon's midfield. He is another player that will help fill the void in the midfield left by Watson, Stanton, Heppell, Hocking, Colyer, Howlett and Myers.

Matthew Stokes: Similar to Simpkin except Stokes offers forward support as well similar to Colyer and Howlett.

James Polkinghorne: Built a career battling to stay in the AFL, after winning Essendon's VFL best and fairest Polkinghorne is an obvious recruit for the club and will enjoy the opportunity of another shot at the big time at 27 year olds. Polkinghorne also plays a midfield/forward role like Stokes and will help replace the loss of Colyer and Howlett.

So far so good for the Bombers, the players may not be as good as those they are replacing but they are about the best available at this time of year. The big question now is what are the Bombers going to do with their last 4 players and how are they going to cover the loss of some of their KPP's.

Looking to the next 4:

Tom Bellchambers: Essendon will be thanking their lucky stars that they had already recruited ex-Lion ruckman Matthew Leuenburger during the free agency period. Leuenburger wants to be the No.1 man and this is his big opportunity. The only issue for the Bombers is that Leuenburger has been fragile in his career so far and will be very lucky to play 22 games this season. There are rumours that the Bombers have been chasing Mark Jamar out of retirement as a back-up. There other option may be ex Fremantle and Carlton ruckman Robert Warnock who at 29 may offer more durability as a back-up.

Hooker, Hurley & Pears: It's probably the second hardest position to find players in the AFL only to FF. The issue for the Bombers is they have lost 2 key defenders, had one retire (Fletcher) and there favourite back-up is also on the suspension list (Pears). There has been some talk about Matthew Watson who failed to impress enough at Carlton and the once high draft pick has been left high and dry with no club. Arguably he isn't going to be that great a replacement given Carlton didn't even want him but he may be about the best option. Ex St Kilda player Tom Simpkin could be an undersized option and Ex Giant Tim Golds being another option. Aside from this there isn't a great deal on offer and the Bombers could be really hurt by lacking defensive options this year.

The last of their recruits will possibly be another midfielder (if they choose not to take 3 KPD). One player they could look to for experience and a stronger body is ex Sun Danny Stanley. At 27 he is young enough and has been good enough in his career to belong in the AFL.

Overall, the replacements may be good enough to keep Essendon competitive against at least the bottom couple teams in the AFL but losing Key midfielders and defenders will result in significant structural issues for the Bombers. It is likely some massive losses will be inflicted.