Come on mate.'99 Essendon didn't have Hird, Lucas and Jason Johnson due to injury. Added Barnes. Massive injection of talent between seasons.
'01 Essendon was running on fumes. Hird played the GF with a torn groin, Fletcher on a leg fracture, Barnes couldn't kick on his favoured side due a heel injury, Misiti and Mercuri half fit, Long and Wallis pretty much miss the whole season.
2000 Essendon beats the 99 and 2001 Essendon sides by 5-10 goals in a GF.
Back to the thread the only sides I've seen that would make me nervous vs Essendon in 2000 would be Geelong 07 and 08, Carlton 95, St Kilda 09 and maybe Geelong & Collingwood 2011. Would still back them though.
You know Richmond 2017 would belt all of those teams.