Essendon are a team full of potential cheapies for coaches to consider, while there’s possible value in a few players following injury-hit 2024 campaigns.
Fixture
Essendon play Opening Round this year, so they’ve got an early bye in Round 5 aside along 1 other team (Hawthorn) which softens the blow. The Bombers’ mid-season bye is Round 16, the last of the bye rounds, which is great.
Squad Changes
Ins
Angus Clarke (No.39 draft pick), Archer Day-Wicks (Rookie Draft), Kayle Gerreyn (No.37 draft pick), Zak Johnson (No.70 draft pick), Isaac Kako (No.13 draft pick, Academy), Jayden Nguyen (Category B rookie), Jaxon Prior (SSP), Rhys Unwin (No.61 draft pick)
Outs
Kaine Baldwin (delisted), Jayden Davey (delisted), Dyson Heppell (retired), Nick Hind (delisted), Jaiden Hunter (delisted), Jake Kelly (retired), Jake Stringer (trade, Greater Western Sydney), Tex Wanganeen (delisted), Sam Weideman (delisted)
Snapshot
The Dons have seen a few regulars exit in the off-season, led by Jake Stringer who didn’t miss a game in 2024 but has headed to GWS. Retired pair Dyson Heppell (18 games in 2024) and Jake Kelly (20 games in 2024) will leave vacancies too.
Essendon have mostly added kids via the draft, while 23-year-old ex-Brisbane Lions defender/winger Jaxon Prior has joined as a supplementary selection and will be in their best 22 mix.
Injury returns
Essendon’s preferred midfield mix is a bit of a mystery with injuries restricting Will Setterfield, Dylan Shiel, Darcy Parish and Ben Hobbs to 4, 9, 12 and 12 games respectively, so watch this space if they’re all fully fit and available for Round 1.
Defender Jordan Ridley only managed 9 games in 2024, floored by a hip flexor issue, so he’s got upside and his return will impact their backline set-up, along with injury-prone defender Zach Reid who only played once in 2024.
Mid-season draftee Saad El-Hawli picked up a syndesmosis injury in his best afield VFL debut for the Dons last year, so he’s someone who could shoot into their best 22.
Mainstays
Zach Merrett gets it done year-in year-out, averaging 100+ for consecutive seasons in Fantasy. Nic Martin had a breakout season, going up roughly 20 points on his Fantasy and SuperCoach average, so he’s got to be considered among the top 6 defenders available.
Room for improvement
Given their injuries in 2024, Will Setterfield and Dylan Shiel should have some upside given their starting prices.
Elijah Tsatas went with pick 5 in the 2022 Draft but hasn’t been able to nail a regular game for Essendon, managing only 7 games in 2024, despite being prolific at under-age level. Is this his year? His starting price in SuperCoach particularly makes him an option.
Rookies
The aforementioned Saad El-Hawli is rookie priced and yet to debut, so needs to be monitored. Among the Bombers’ 2024 draft crop, Isaac Kako is the standout as a 175cm small forward who booted 3 goals in Vic Metro’s 2024 National Championships grand final triumph, earning All-Australian honours. With Stringer gone, the Dons will be wanting some creativity up forward.
