Just one of Essendon's top six goal kickers from last season will play in their round-one AFL clash against Geelong.
It represents a baptism of fire for highly-rated assistant coach Dale Tapping, who has joined the Bombers after five years at the Brisbane Lions and is in charge of their forwards.
The absences of Jake Stringer, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Harrison Jones, Alex Waterman and Cale Hooker (retired) represent a big depletion of Essendon's scoring firepower.
Key forward Peter Wright, who was fourth on their goalkicking list last year, impressive second-year player Archie Perkins and debutant Kaine Baldwin will be their main scoring options on Saturday at the MCG.
But Tapping has faith that the system they are developing at Tullamarine will stand up against the well-organised Cats defence, regardless of who plays in attack.
"It depends how you look at it. The narrative has been who's not there for this week ... (but) I haven't spent one moment this week about who's not there," Tapping told AAP.
"Your energy goes into the personnel that's available.
"But also the way we endeavour to work, not only as a forward line but as a team, it's really system-orientated in terms of how we approach it.
"All the coaching has been how the game looks for us what we want the game to look like, so we feel like we have a group of guys ... who will be able to deliver on that.
"That's where your coaching energy goes."
Nic Martin will make his AFL debut, while former Adelaide defender Jake Kelly will play his first game for the Bombers.
Midfielders Dylan Shiel and Jye Caldwell will play after missing large chunks of last season.
At the other end of the ground all eyes will be on livewire small forward Tyson Stengle, who kicked four goals in a pre-season game against Richmond.
The Cats threw Stengle an AFL lifeline after well-documented problems off the field.
On-field, there is no doubting his ability.
For all the talk about where Geelong are on the premiership clock, they remain formidable opponents -- particularly for a developing team in Essendon.
"(They're) obviously a very, very good team and a team that's particularly well-structured around the footy and behind the ball," Tapping said.
"They're going to represent a really tough challenge for us, but that's where the improvement comes from, playing against these teams."
