Don The Stat

Support Rick at his Patreon here - https://www.patreon.com/cw/RickEdwards

With Essendon's 2026 season spiralling and the AFL Draft becoming the major source of optimism for Bombers fans, we welcome back one of the most respected talent watchers in the Essendon community — Rick Edwards.

In this special Don The Stat episode, Rick reveals his exclusive Mid-Season Top 20 AFL Draft Rankings and breaks down the players every Essendon supporter should be watching ahead of the National Championships.

We discuss:

🏆 The state of Essendon's season and whether Brad Scott's sacking was the right call

🏆 James Hird's coaching prospects and what the Bombers should prioritise in their rebuild

🏆 Why Harry Van Hattum is currently Rick's No.1 prospect

🏆 Arki Butler, Ethan Drever, Kodah Edwards, Harvie Cook and the other elite talents climbing draft boards

🏆 Who Essendon could target with multiple early selections

🏆 The latest on NGA prospects Justice, Bewick, Jed Naim, Darwish and Rodan

🏆 Rick's experience watching the Vic Metro vs Vic Country trial match

🏆 The players who could rise rapidly during the National Championships

If you're already looking ahead to the future of the Essendon Football Club, this is the draft episode you've been waiting for.

Don't forget to check out Rick's Patreon for exclusive training reports, vision and draft analysis, and follow him on X at @BomberRicko.

🔴⚫ #GoDons

____

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

Don The Stat Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/donthestat

Follow Don The Stat on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/donthestat?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Stubby Holder Form - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdRJGhBVEqDn7pywRvnDCnybyQR8vvoeMoIaoIGa0QDx7hT0A/viewform?usp=dialog

 

Essendon and Carlton. The ladder might say one thing, but this rivalry always means something.

This week on Don The Stat, Jono and Humey review Dean Solomon's first game as interim coach following the Bombers' disappointing loss to West Coast and examine what, if anything, changed on-field.

The boys dive into:

The clearance dominance that failed to translate into scoreboard pressure

Nick Bryan's emergence as a genuine AFL ruckman

The departures of Ben Jacobs and Ben Robbins

Another brutal injury update involving Archie May and Lewis Hayes

Essendon's request for AFL assistance and what support could look like

Whether key defence has suddenly become a list priority

Carlton's resurgence under Josh Fraser

The Blues' dangerous centre bounce game and how Essendon can combat it

Selection dilemmas ahead of a huge Sunday night clash at the MCG

Plus, the Damian Barrett Lifetime Achievement Award returns and an obscure stat about identical twins rucking against each other.

All that and plenty more in another big edition of Don The Stat.

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

Don The Stat Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/donthestat

Follow Don The Stat on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/donthestat?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

It has been one of the biggest weeks in recent Essendon history.

After another injury-hit loss, this time to Richmond in Dreamtime at the ‘G, the Bombers sit 1-10 and anchored to the bottom of the AFL ladder. The fallout only intensified with the sacking of Brad Scott, another wave of media scrutiny, and Dean Solomon stepping in as interim coach.

On this week’s Don The Stat Match Preview, Jono and Ian reflect on an emotional and draining week for the Essendon community, the deeper meaning behind supporting the club, and what comes next for the Bombers.

The boys break down:

The decision to move on from Brad Scott

Whether Essendon’s long-term strategy can survive another coaching change

The resilience shown in the Richmond loss despite more injuries

Darcy Parish’s enormous Dreamtime performance

Kane Cornes earning a Barrett Award nomination

Mid-season draftee Jaxon Artemis and what he adds to the list

West Coast’s improvement in 2026 and the challenge awaiting in Perth

The tactical and structural changes fans want to see under Dean Solomon

There’s also discussion around Essendon’s youth movement, list build, clearance struggles, Harley Reid, Bailey Williams, Jake Waterman and how the Bombers can respond after one of the toughest weeks the club has faced in years.

A reflective, emotional and analytical episode from the Don The Stat team.

_____

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

Don The Stat Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/donthestat

Follow Don The Stat on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/donthestat?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

This was recorded on Patreon live earlier this evening. Ian gives his reaction to Brad Scott's sacking and interacts with Patrons.

Jono will give his thoughts on our main show this Thursday

***Apologies for the audio quality, there were issues with the recording tonight***

Dreamtime at the ‘G returns, but this year it arrives with plenty of pressure surrounding both Essendon and Richmond.

In this episode of Don The Stat, Jono and Humey break down the Bombers’ disappointing loss to Fremantle, including another poor start, contest issues around stoppage, and why the raw stats didn’t fully reflect how one-sided the game felt early. They also discuss the signs of improvement in Essendon’s forward half pressure and whether there was anything worth taking from the second half response.

The boys dive into the latest media storm surrounding Essendon’s list strategy, including Jay Clark’s reporting on Adrian Dodoro, Harley Reid, Craig Vozzo and the club’s rebuild direction. They unpack the context around Essendon’s 2024 position, why the “all in” approach would have been a massive gamble, and how AFL media coverage continues to shape perception around the club.

There’s also discussion around:

Peter Wright’s injury and what it means for Nick Bryan

Brayden Fiorini’s season-ending setback

Essendon’s likely mid-season draft strategy

Richmond’s rebuild and injury struggles

Key tactical battles for Dreamtime at the G

Whether the Bombers can handle the pressure if things go wrong on Friday night

Plus the latest Damian Barrett Award nominee, Patreon shoutouts, and why Dreamtime remains one of the most important nights in football regardless of ladder position.

🎧 All that and more on this week’s episode of Don The Stat. 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

Don The Stat Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/donthestat

Follow Don The Stat on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/donthestat?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==