SWANS UP FOR BOMBER CHALLENGE

Sydney coach John Longmire is relishing the prospect of his players testing themselves against a rejuvenated Essendon on Sunday. Longmire felt the Swans were below par for winning contested balls in their draw with Melbourne. "Essendon are up and about, there's no doubt about that, but we look forward to playing them. To beat a top-four team from last year as well as they did is a credit to them, but I know our players are really looking forward to the challenge," he said.

Dons may be benchmarks

AS WITH everything that has occurred at Windy Hill in the past six months, Sunday's punishment of the Western Bulldogs was viewed through the prism of the messianic return of James Hird. The Bulldogs' midfield parted for Essendon like the Red Sea.

Cooney confident

IT HASN'T been the most impressive of pre-season performances but Brownlow medallist Adam Cooney maintains he has completed enough work to take on Essendon on Sunday.

Thanks to James, they're one big happy family at Windy Hill

MUCH has been made of the seismic change at Essendon over the past few months, to personnel, the coaching staff, training techniques, and, of course, the gameplan.