There has been an abundance of glorious moments and achievements in Essendon's 150-year history, of which many would have been recounted at the club's extravagant festivities last weekend.
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But as Bomber greats gathered to celebrate an illustrious past, there is palpable consternation about the club's current predicament among the red and black faithful.
President Paul Brasher's grandiose proclamation that Essendon can be only two-three years away from a premiership is the latest example of the Bombers' hubris.
If Brasher's view is genuinely shared by influential figures, including the football department, it is reflective of the delusional mindset at a club that has not won a final since 2004.
The Bombers are way off the pace as their ladder position suggests. They were seduced into believing they were on the right track by grabbing a finals spot last year, but reality has bitten hard this season.
In an attempt to appease the growing unrest among supporters, Brasher has announced another review of football department operations.
Unlike other clubs, including arch-rival Carlton, which chose to appoint independent panels to conduct similar reviews, club director Sean Wellman is in charge at Essendon.
As Wellman has presided over the recent football-related decisions, there are doubts about how effective and wide-ranging this review will be.
Surely senior coach Ben Rutten and his assistants should be subjected to intense scrutiny for persisting with a game style that can unravel and be exposed too easily.
Despite Brasher's public support, long-serving list manager Adrian Dodoro should also be under severe pressure.
Recruiting and building a strong playing group is not a perfect science, but Dodoro has made several questionable judgments.
Overall there is a lack of balance in Essendon's list, particularly in the key area of midfield.
Zach Merrett, Darcy Parish and Andrew McGrath are the linchpins, but the Bombers do not have the depth or bigger-bodied midfielders so influential in the modern game.
Dodoro gave up too much for Dylan Shiel, while the inconsistent Jake Stringer has occasional flashes of brilliance, but lacks the engine to be a full-time midfielder.
Cats in line for top-four finish
Here are the mid-season reviews for the six clubs having the bye last round.
ADELAIDE (4-8)
After showing promise in winning three of their first six games, including successive victories over Richmond and the Western Bulldogs, the Crows lost five in a row before breaking the streak against bottom team West Coast.
Skipper Rory Sloane's season-ending knee injury has been a crushing blow and five of their remaining 10 games are on the road, but there is some hope for a strong finish to the season, with two matches against 17th-placed North Melbourne and another encounter against the Eagles.
GEELONG (8-4)
The Cats should benefit from a favourable draw and a fourth consecutive top-four finish beckons. Five of their remaining 10 games are at their fortress of GMHBA Stadium, which includes matches against bottom two teams, North Melbourne and West Coast, and they play the Eagles in Perth straight after the bye. Tom Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron pack a formidable one-two punch in attack with 71 goals between them.
GOLD COAST (6-6)
The Suns comfortably disposed of their past two opponents in Darwin and approach the second half of the season with a genuine optimism of playing in the finals for the first time. They meet only four teams above them in their remaining 10 matches and half of those games are at Metricon Stadium where they are tough to beat. Co-captain Touk Miller has been in All-Australian form in the midfield, although losing the in-form Lachie Weller with a season-ending knee injury is devastating.
SYDNEY (8-4)
The Swans entered the bye with renewed confidence and belief after consecutive victories over Richmond and Melbourne. In the run home, they play St Kilda twice and the encounters against Fremantle (away) and Collingwood (home) are likely to be pivotal in deciding where they finish on the ladder.
Co-captain Callum Mills has been outstanding in the midfield, young key forward Logan McDonald has taken impressive strides, Tom Papley is back and firing and veteran spearhead Lance Franklin will return from suspension.
WEST COAST (1-11)
Can it get any worse for the Eagles after a disastrous first half of the season? The combined effect of COVID-related issues and a long injury list has not helped, but their campaign was derailed early in the year, with a come-from-behind win over Collingwood the only highlight. Despite playing six of their remaining 10 matches in Perth, the road ahead looks no easier, with home games against lowly Essendon and Adelaide their best chances of avoiding the wooden spoon.
WESTERN BULLDOGS (6-6)
The Dogs have been flat-track bullies this year, carving up lower-ranked teams but struggling against better opposition. Sydney and Collingwood have been their most impressive scalps, but the run home is tough, facing six sides above them.
Josh Bruce should return soon to give much-needed support to spearhead Aaron Naughton in attack and their midfield led by skipper Marcus Bontempelli is one of the AFL's deepest and most talented, but the Bulldogs remain vulnerable against teams with potent tall forwards.