AFL news: Jye Caldwell’s emergence powering Essendon midfield to success

With Darcy Parish sidelined, Zach Merrett needed another sidekick to ignite Essendon’s finals push — enter Jye Caldwell. He speaks to DAN BATTEN about thriving as a Bomber.

Jye Caldwell celebrates with fans after their win. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Essendon’s new-look midfield has spurred the Bombers to a top-four spot.

And while Sam Durham’s injection into the centre-square has been all the rage, Jye Caldwell has been an underrated and integral part of their improved engine room.

The 11th pick from the 2018 super draft is fulfilling his potential after an injury-riddled start to his career, where he managed just 14 senior games in his first three seasons.

Caldwell’s impressive form and enhanced midfield time – an increase of 13 per cent compared to last year – culminated in the top-ranked performance of his career according to Champion Data in Essendon’s win over West Coast.

Jye Caldwell’s performance against West Coast was the best of his career. Picture: Getty Images

The 23-year-old attended more centre bounces than any other Bombers midfielder and finished with 26 disposals, 11 tackles, six marks, six clearances, an important goal on the run from 50 metres and 126 SuperCoach points, receiving three votes from the coaches.

It epitomised his well-rounded impact in 2024. With ball in hand he is creative and makes things happen, but he also fights impact tooth and nail when the opposition has the Sherrin.

The defensive area of his game would surely hold him in high esteem inside the four walls at The Hanger.

But Caldwell’s uncompromising approach left him with a battle scar and two stitches under his eye after the West Coast win – a common theme this season.

The tough midfielder copped a shiner. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

“It’s not too bad, I had no blood rules my whole career except I’ve had four this year. Been doing a bit more inside work which has been good,” Caldwell said.

His impressive season has come at the best possible time given he is out of contract, with Caldwell saying that negotiations are “going well”.

“I will leave that to my manager but it’s all good so far,” Caldwell said.

Essendon gave up pick 29 and a future second round selection to GWS for Caldwell and pick 44 and 74 during Essendon’s busy 2020 off-season.

Jye Caldwell has been immense today! 😤#AFLDonsEaglespic.twitter.com/NZ6SM6yibx

— AFL (@AFL) June 23, 2024

While it has been well documented that they lost Joe Daniher to Brisbane and Adam Saad to Carlton that year, they added Caldwell, key forward Peter Wright and playmaker Nick Hind who have been central to their resurgence this year.

Add in the improving Archie Perkins and Nik Cox, who they took as top 10 selections in the draft a month later, and it is period that Bombers fans are seeing the rewards from four years on.

Essendon faces its bogey team Geelong on Saturday night, who the Bombers have lost their six against by an averaging losing margin of 52 points.

With Essendon ranking sixth in competition for contested possession differential and points from clearances, the MCG blockbuster presents as its best opportunity in years to knock off the Cats, whose midfield weakness has been exposed in recent weeks.

“It’s massive, obviously every week is a big game but especially this weekend against the Cats, feel like the last few years we have been off when we play the Cats so hopefully on Saturday night we flip the script and get the job done,” Caldwell said.

“You could see at the start of the season they started off as the best team in the competition and there is 18 teams in the competition, it is so tight. If you don’t rock up one week it can lead to a pretty easy loss.

“Credit to Geelong, we know how strong they’ve been and obviously coming off a couple of losses but we know they’ll bounce back.

“We like to be as best as we possibly can and that’s winning games but if we’re not it’s during the week getting the best out of ourselves. We might have surprised a few people in where we are sitting on the ladder, but it is all the hard work that we are doing during the week, come game day and it’s a good reflection of where we are at.”

Hailing from Bendigo, where he was a golden gloves boxer as a youngster, Caldwell will have something extra to play for in the annual county game between the two sides.

“Used to play at Golden Square Football Club and it’s such a great round, country round. It brings the local communities together, it is such an exciting round of AFL footy and can’t wait for Saturday night,” Caldwell said.

Originally published as AFL news: Jye Caldwell’s emergence powering Essendon midfield to success