The past decade has been characterised by hope and heartbreak for Essendon.
The drug scandal meant Bomber teams of the early part of the decade never reached their full potential and the club was forced into a brief period of irrelevance in 2016.
The post-saga world for the Bombers has been filled with inconsistency and false hope, currently holding the longest winless finals record in the competition.
Throughout this turmoil, there have been 10 standouts that have stood the test of time.
Here are Essendon's top 10 players of the decade:ย
Cale Hooker
A 192-game player can play at either end of the ground, although many see him as one of the games best defenders.
Once only known as that guy Buddy Franklin ran away from in 2008, Hooker developed into an All-Australian in 2014 alongside teammate Dyson Heppell.
A clean defender with plenty of aerial ability, Hooker's intercept abilities were a cornerstone of the 2014 Bomber side that finished 7th, eventually losing to North Melbourne in the elimination final.
Hooker continues to play with passion and fire for the red and black in whatever role necessary. A right footed snap to beat the Hawks in Round 2 of 2015 ensured he will continue to be a fan favourite as long as his career continues.
