BEYOND THE BYE

All right, now we can finally take a nice long deep breath.

Finally … it’s bye week.

Thank god!

Essendon’s 41-point loss to Fremantle in Perth last Thursday night ends the first half of the season for the Bombers, and what was becoming an ugly, and then uglier run of losses. It’s time for a break and to assess what’s to come. But I feel it would be cruel not to point out the few shining lights in the defeat at the hands of the Dockers.

Firstly, and impossible to ignore was the game by Nate Caddy. The club’s latest forward superstar has had his fair share of mixed results so far in season 2025. But his performance against the Dockers was another to put in the wins column for the 19-year-old, a column that is now starting to thicken. Despite a relatively modest collection of touches, 15 all up, Caddy’s use and versatility by foot was most impressive. His ‘fuck it’ torpedo up the wing was a fun little addition to the trick bag, but his field-kicking is starting to become one of his greatest weapons. His hops were once again on show, and he added another goal to his tally. Caddy will be one Don going into the break on a high, and with plenty to think about in regards to his potential contract-extension too.

Big boy Vigo Visentini showed plenty!

He’s got skill, know-how, intelligence and a real dose of the dawg in him that is so sorely needed at Tullamarine. As debuts do, that was bloody lovely. Whatever the club’s plans are related to Sam Draper, Nick Bryan, Todd Goldstein and Lachlan Blakiston, make sure Vigo is a part of it.

The fans have seen him play … and we want more!

A tough Thursday was had in Perth, but EFC’s youth was once again on display.

Then there was the hard workers. Will Setterfield, Jye Caldwell, Archie Roberts and Ben Hobbs all put in whatever they had for the team – something this quartet does week-in and week-out. They got plenty of the pill and took the major share of the team’s tackle count also. Though Hobbs may not be everyone’s favourite player at the club, and has justifiably not received the same level of fanfare as the other three have at points this season, you can’t fault his effort … even if you can fault his execution.

Something some of our more senior players could learn about.

Because as has been the case throughout 2025, Essendon has found itself under-supported by those it relies on. The club’s mature performers. Now, this is not engineered to be a bashing, but at the end of the day the Bombers season so far as been marred not only by injury, but by below par performances by figures fans hoped would have evolved by this point in their careers.

Questions seemed to grow by the week about the value of the Canadian Bomber.

Andrew McGrath, Jade Gresham and Archie Perkins are names that many Dons fans will have on the tips of their tongues when discussing players underperforming. For McGrath, he has found plenty of the ball but his disposal, especially by foot, has been nothing short of diabolical. He is not only in his 9th season of AFL football, but the club’s vice-captain. It’s a simple equation … he needs to be better. If this is his ceiling, what does that say for what remains of his career? Because watching him this year makes you wonder, is he in Essendon’s best-22 come 2026?

Gresham is disappointing, but not that St Kilda fans didn’t warn the faithful. Gresham showed promise at times during the early stages of the season, seeming more engaged in defensive aspects of his forward craft and looked to be a potential pressure man up front. But that faded – which is a theme of his career. Gresham is okay, but that’s it.

If this list is healthy, he’d have a much better understanding of VFL grounds.

And then there’s Perko …

Please know it brings me little joy to see him in the pit of poor form that he is in, and despite Brad Scott’s support of him, I really don’t understand his purpose in the Bombers best-22, if all are healthy. Scott spoke about Perkins needing to remember what he’s great at, but in what position? Scott claimed he was, “a strong, powerful footballer who, at his best, is breaking through tackles and competing really strong.”

I might be slowly developing early signs of dementia, but I don’t recall that Perkins. He’s shown signs and at times almost declared himself a quality and even silky midfielder – but that seems eons ago now. With the likes of Sam Durham, Zach Merrett, Darcy Parish, Will Setterfield, Nic Martin and Caldwell running around, I just can’t see him breaking in, all things considered. And despite being a strong kick for goal, Perkins lacks any defensive craft and gets lost easily when up forward.

Again, don’t want to knock the kid, but in his 5th season and almost 100 games for the club, Perkins is nowhere near the player the club needs him to be. There’s plenty of football still to be played in ’25, but it’s hard not to imagine Perkins being mentioned when trade time comes around.

WHAT’S TO COME

There’s a good chance the team is in for a positive shake-up, as a number of players look close or ready to return to the field. Jordan Ridley, Mason Redman, Kyle Langford, Zach Reid and Saad El-Hawli all look like a chance to come back into the fray against the Gold Coast Suns next weekend, adding much needed maturity and versatility to a team that has pretty much been a glorified VFL side these past few months.

But will it be enough to get some W’s on the board?

The faithful will be back under the roof on Saturday, July 5th against the Suns. Thoughts and prayers, pls.

The Dons have the Suns at Marvel Stadium to kick things off (cue the trauma caused by Mac Andrew), followed by Richmond (MCG), GWS Giants (Marvel Stadium), Western Bulldogs (Marvel) and the Sydney Swans at the SCG over the coming month. Even an optimist would suggest a solitary win is the most likely outcome for that schedule. But it’s fair to say that the Swans aren’t the same mob they were last year – the Bombers 8-point win over Sydney in May was evidence enough. So … maybe?

But with more Swannies returning every week, it’s looking less likely a second win against Sydney is on the cards.

The Giants are a 50/50 proposition this year, being about as consistent as the bowel movements of a guy who knows he’s intolerant to something, but isn’t sure what. The only thing sure in this outing is that if Jake Stringer is playing, he’ll kick 10.

And the Bulldogs, well, shit…

I think it’s easy to say that a bottom-6 finish for Essendon is pretty much a lock, and losses will be more common than not. But it’s important not to waste this year. As it stands, the Bombers have almost more out-of-contract players than any team. Names such as Ben Hobbs, Dylan Shiel, Jaxon Prior, Jayden Laverde, Nick Bryan, Luamon Lual, Will Setterfield, Vigo Visentini, Todd Goldstein and Sam Draper just to name a few, will need decisions made about them.

If the club wants to keep them (or just a few), they need to show that this club is going somewhere. We all know well the current conversation around Draper and opinions vary, but if the club does want to keep the big fella around, I’m confident that Essendon looking like a rising team will count for more than we give it credit. Money is important and every player is well within their rights to hunt it.

But success is special. And for some, eternal.

Let’s just hope the club can show everyone that the Bombers are on the move, and for the first time in over 20-years, moving in the right direction.

Go Planes.