Bombers defender Redman vows no repeat of ‘pretty stupid’ act as Dons define ‘edge’

Mason Redman was suspended for a week after a jumper punch in Round 1, but he says that act was the furthest thing from the ‘Essendon edge’.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 30: Mason Redman of the Bombers in action during the 2024 AFL Round 03 match between the Essendon Bombers and the St Kilda Saints at Marvel Stadium on March 30, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Inspirational Essendon defender Mason Redman has vowed to keep control of his on-field emotions, insisting he had learnt his lesson from an uncharacteristic double-handed strike on Hawk Jai Newcombe which cost him a one-week ban earlier this season.

As the Bombers prepare to bring their much-talked about ‘Essendon Edge’ into a prime-time Gather Round Friday night clash with Port Adelaide, Redman said there won’t be a repeat of his “pretty stupid” act from a emotion-charged round 1 clash with Hawthorn.

He missed the club’s round 2 clash with Sydney as a result, but said he wanted to keep his on-field edge without going over the line.

“It was a pretty stupid act, to be honest,” Redman said as he and the Bombers arrived in Adelaide late on Thursday.

“You can’t get away with those things in modern football. It was definitely a brain fade on my behalf. I have put my hand up and owned that, and I will try and stamp those (acts) out of my game from here on.”

Mason Redman has vowed to curb his instinct Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Much has been made of the ‘Essendon Edge’, mostly from outside of The Hangar, but Redman said it had more to do with intent, attack on the ball and contested work rather than any targeted physical attack on the opposition.

“I think when the ball is there to be won, that’s where you can make your impact … (to show) you are harder than the opposition,” he said.

“You don’t show that in a few jumper punches on the wing on the MCG … you show it when the ball is between you (and the opposition), and it is ready to be won.

“That’s something I will be looking forward to bringing into the future.”

Redman, 26, recommitted to the Bombers late last year, despite offers to return to South Australia (he is from Millicent), with his belief in the young group being one of the reasons behind his decision.

Two wins from the club’s first three games - with only a loss to Sydney - has partly validated his belief, especially the performance from a handful of young guns including Archie Perkins, who has relished more time in the midfield.

“These are the guys who have now had a lot of games under their belt and I think the fruits of that are starting to show,” he said. “We are 2-1 at the moment and wins aren’t everything, but the guys have started the year really positively.”

“Hopefully they can take that forward for the rest of their careers.”

Big-name recruit Ben McKay has made an immediate impact in the key defensive post, so much so that Redman thinks he can become the best backman in the AFL.

“He has had an unbelievable start to the year, it would have been awesome to have (Jordan) Ridley and Zach Reid pair with him, but it hasn’t worked out so far,” he said.

“We’ve started the year all right, and going forward, we want to see those guys alongside him. I believe he can be one of the premier defenders of the competition.”

He said a match-up with Port Adelaide loomed as another early season audit, but he was confident the Bombers are ready to make an impact against a top eight challenger.

“Port has started the year well and what better way to get into Gather Round than playing against them under the Friday night lights,” he said.

“It should be a great game. We’re hoping for a massive turnout.”

Originally published as Bombers defender Redman vows no repeat of ‘pretty stupid’ act as Dons define ‘edge’