ESSENDON\u2019S hopes of seriously contending in 2022 could rest on the shoulders of Peter Wright.<\/p>\n
With Cale Hooker retired, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti currently sidelined, Jake Stringer expected to spend more time in the midfield and Harris Jones out with an ankle injury, much could rely on the 25-year-old in attack.<\/p>\n
Former Bombers star Matthew Lloyd has high expectations of the former ex-Gold Coast Sun, who impressed at times in his debut season in the red and black last year, returning 29 goals from 21 games.<\/p>\n
Lloyd believes that if Wright can elevate himself to become a more reliable goalkicking option and perhaps take his tally towards the 60-goal mark, then the Dons will benefit greatly.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe looks a much better player already at Essendon, he looks a more confident player,\u201d Lloyd said on Sportsday<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cHe had a breakout game last year when he kicked seven against the Bulldogs so he\u2019s shown what he can do for one game.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he should be looking to kick two or three a week and if he can kick 60 goals, that\u2019s a huge season.\u201d<\/p>\n Lloyd said the situation with the club\u2019s forward line will see Wright receive plenty of chances to deliver this season.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of ball is going to go through him this year,\u201d he said. \u201cSo he\u2019s got much more opportunity to kick a lot more goals.<\/p>\n \u201cHe got 29 last year so you think he\u2019s only going to get better than that.\u201d<\/p>\n Gerard Healy concurs with Lloyd\u2019s sentiment, believing there is enormous potential waiting to be unlocked.<\/p>\n Healy also said Wright can go to another level and be Essendon\u2019s leading act inside forward 50.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s another level I reckon,\u201d he said. \u201cIf the Bombers are to be a premiership side, he should be part of that.<\/p>\n \u201cKevin Sheehan talked about this bloke as if it was Matthew Lloyd coming through. He\u2019s a different player, clearly, because he could become a forward\/ruck and they\u2019re hard to find.<\/p>\n \u201cIf he can kick 50 to 60 goals then Essendon are a threat.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is the crystal ball element where you\u2019ve got to look at a bloke and say, \u2018what is he capable of?\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cHis potential is exactly what Lloydy is saying, it\u2019s 50-plus goals.\u201d<\/p>\n In his career to date, Wright has kicked 114 goals from 87 matches with his best return of 31 coming while at the Suns in 2017.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n