Don The Stat

Essendon's list is taking shape, but where do the Bombers still need to improve ahead of the 2026 AFL National Draft?

On this episode of Don The Stat, Ian is joined by Tommy Wolfe, creator of the Reading the Play blog (https://readingtheplay.wordpress.com/), to break down Essendon's list position by position and identify the biggest needs heading into November's draft.

With another crucial stage of the rebuild approaching, we assess the quality and depth of the current list, examine where the Bombers have enough options and pinpoint the positions where recruiting young talent should be a priority.

🏉 IN THIS EPISODE

🔴 Essendon's trade period and off-season list changes

🔴 Key forwards: Is there a long-term partner for Nate Caddy?

🔴 Small forwards: Do the Bombers need a genuine pressure player and goal threat?

🔴 Key defenders: Is this Essendon's biggest list weakness?

🔴 Midfielders: Do the Bombers need another inside-outside option?

🔴 Assessing the depth across the wings, ruck and defensive positions

🔴 The positions Essendon should prioritise at the 2026 National Draft

🔴 Potential draft targets, including key defenders, small forwards and midfielders

🔴 Who should Essendon target with its first live pick?

🔴 Three draft prospects who could make this a successful draft for the Bombers

Tommy brings his knowledge of the draft crop and Essendon's list to the discussion, helping us work through the key questions facing the club as it continues its rebuild.

What position should Essendon prioritise at the draft? Let us know in the comments!

Subscribe to Don The Stat for Essendon analysis, AFL draft discussion, player reviews, list management and plenty of debate about the future of the Bombers.

Up the Dons!

#Essendon #AFLDraft #DonTheStat

🔥 It's back! The annual Don The Stat Hot Takes episode!

No stats. No research. No preparation. And absolutely no idea what's coming next.

After a season Essendon supporters would rather forget, we're throwing our usual analytical approach out the window and handing the microphone to YOU!

With more than 100 hot takes submitted by our Patreon community, Essendon Reddit and followers on X, Humey has handpicked some of the most controversial, outrageous and thought-provoking opinions for Jono to tackle completely unprepared.

🌶️ On the menu this year:

🔴 The Rebuild: Did Essendon leave it too late? Are we closer to finals than anyone thinks? And have we made the right calls at the trade table?

🏉 The Players: Is Zach Merrett's seven Crichton Medals more a reflection of his brilliance or the lack of competition? Is Archie Roberts overrated? And who's our next number one ruckman?

🧠 The Coaching Conspiracy: Was the McVeigh appointment part of an elaborate plan involving Andrew Welsh, John Longmire and James Hird? Grab your tinfoil hats!

🎯 Draft Controversies: Is Ethan Drever overrated? Could Blake Justice be a top-five player from this draft? And are we looking at the wrong players?

🏆 Bold Predictions: Finals within two years? A new captain by 2028? And could the Bombers name itself eventually disappear?

📊 Plus: We reveal the community's predictions for Essendon's 2027 ladder position and Crichton Medal winner.

And just when Humey thinks he's escaped unscathed, Jono turns the tables with a hot take of his own involving Nate Caddy and Matthew Lloyd. 👀

It's passionate, occasionally ridiculous, and guaranteed to divide opinion.

🎧 Welcome to Don The Stat. Where, for one night only, the stats don't matter!

🔴⚫ Stay Safe & Go Dons!

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Trade period is done, and Essendon’s rebuild takes another turn. Jono and Humey assess the deals, the departures and what comes next as attention shifts towards the draft.

🔄 Merrett and Ridley depart: Did the Bombers get fair value, and what did completing both trades early allow Matt Rosa to do?

🔴⚫ Coleman and Bowes arrive: How Keidean Coleman could transform Essendon’s ball movement, and the experience, leadership and flexibility Jack Bowes brings to a young list.

🤔 The deals that didn’t happen: We discuss Nick Blakey, Gryan Miers and the pursuit of another early draft pick and whether holding onto future assets was the right call.

🧑‍🏫 Building the football department: Daniel Pratt and Paul Thomas join the coaching team, while we examine the roles of John Longmire and Craig Vozzo and the increased emphasis on player development.

👀 Who should we take at pick one? We compare Arki Butler, Heath Mellody, Ethan Drever and Gus Teixera, consider how they fit Essendon’s needs, and look at the draft capital being assembled for 2027 and beyond.

Plus, Jayden Nguyen’s new deal and the list decisions still to come.

📚 Find Jono’s draft dossiers on the Don The Stat Patreon, with a seven-day free trial available. The Ethan Drever report is free to read at donthestat.com.

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Watch 'The Moment that Mattered' and listen to our Post Match First Thoughts exclusively on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/donthestat

Don The Stat Website: https://www.donthestat.com/

Follow Us on Twitter and Bluesky:

Jono at twitter.com/JonathanJWalsh / https://bsky.app/profile/jonathanjwalsh.bsky.social

Ian at twitter.com/Kyptastic1 / https://bsky.app/profile/kyptastic.bsky.social

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Where does Zach Merrett rank among the greatest players in Essendon history?

After winning a record-equalling seventh Crichton Medal before his departure from the Bombers, Merrett finds himself alongside club legends Dick Reynolds and Bill Hutchinson in the record books. But how does his career stack up against the champions who came before him?

On this episode of Don The Stat, Ian is joined by historian, author and Essendon expert Dr Dan Eddy to revisit the iconic Champions of Essendon list, originally announced in 2002, and build an updated Top 30 of the club’s greatest players.

Dan has written more than 20 books, including a biography of Dick Reynolds, and helped produce the club’s official history as part of Essendon’s 150th anniversary celebrations. He also hosts the Red and Black Project podcast.

In this episode, we discuss:

🔴 Zach Merrett’s legacy: Do seven Crichton Medals put him among Essendon’s all-time greats? And how much should the club’s struggles affect his standing?

⚫ Revisiting the Champions of Essendon: Was the original Top 25 right? Which players could move up or down, and who was unlucky to miss out?

🔴 James Hird and Matthew Lloyd: How did the final chapters of their careers change their standing among the Bombers’ greatest players?

⚫ The new additions: We assess the cases for Dustin Fletcher, Jobe Watson, Scott Lucas and Zach Merrett, considering their individual achievements, longevity, leadership and impact on the club.

🔴 The final Top 30: We reveal our updated rankings and leave one spot open for you to decide!

Who deserves to be included among Essendon’s greatest players? Have we ranked Zach Merrett correctly? And which Bomber has been overlooked?

Let us know your updated Champions of Essendon Top 30 in the comments!

Subscribe to Don The Stat for Essendon analysis, AFL discussion, player reviews, draft coverage and more.

Go Dons! 🔴⚫

___

Watch 'The Moment that Mattered' and listen to our Post Match First Thoughts exclusively on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/donthestat

Don The Stat Website: https://www.donthestat.com/

Follow Us on Twitter and Bluesky:

Jono at twitter.com/JonathanJWalsh / https://bsky.app/profile/jonathanjwalsh.bsky.social

Ian at twitter.com/Kyptastic1 / https://bsky.app/profile/kyptastic.bsky.social

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It’s done. Zach Merrett is a Hawk.

🎙️ Jono and Ian jump on for a short reaction episode as Essendon trades its former captain to Hawthorn for picks 15, 25 and a 2028 second-round selection.

🔎 We give our first impressions of the deal, assess the return and discuss what losing Merrett means for Essendon’s midfield and the next phase under Mark McVeigh.

🔴⚫ After 274 games and seven Crichton Medals, a significant chapter in Essendon’s history closes. We reflect on Merrett’s contribution, the emotions surrounding his departure and where the Bombers go from here.