The player who may just have booted his way onto Essendon’s list

In today’s AFL briefing:

• All the talking points from the Western Bulldogs and Essendon’s match simulation.
• Bitter injury blow for Demon Shane McAdam.
• The young Roos pushing for round one selection.

Perth star boots his way into Dons’ calculations; Ugle-Hagan ready to return

Jon Pierik

Perth sharpshooter Tom Edwards may have played his way on to the Essendon list after a dynamic display in a 19-point win over the Western Bulldogs during match simulation at the Whitten Oval on Saturday.

Given the opportunity to trial with the Bombers through the supplementary selection period, the left-footed Edwards, a mid-sized forward, booted four goals after being activated at half-time before a crowd of about 6500 fans in showery conditions.

The Bombers are looking for more goalkickers, and Edwards, 25, delivered that, with two each in the third and fourth quarters. This included a diving mark and goal in the final term, and another blind snap from about 35 metres after a slick chain of handballs.

He booted 39 goals from 66 scoring shots in 19 games with Swan Districts in the WAFL last season, averaging 11.9 disposals and 4.7 marks per game.

Tom Edwards (left) kicked four goals against the Bulldogs.Credit: Getty Images

The Bombers have one list spot free and have had VFL backman Will Hoare and recently delisted swingman Kaine Baldwin also battling for it, ahead of the February 21 deadline. Baldwin also took to the field on Saturday.

Essendon assistant coach Daniel Giansiracusa said Edwards “couldn’t have done much more”.

“He’s a smart footballer, that’s what we have seen through his training, he runs the right patterns,” Giansiracusa said.

“We probably saw him as more of a marking, lead-up type target, but he did some good stuff on the ground today which needed to happen with the conditions.”

Former Essendon skipper Dyson Heppell, commentating on Kayo, said Edwards had “certainly taken his chances”.

The Bulldogs gave Brayden Crossley a run, the Southport co-captain fighting alongside Werribee midfielder Dom Brew for a spot on the list. The burly Crossley shared the role with Tim English, who had been nursing an abdominal issue, but played with freedom.

Many players were given only a half of football, including emerging star Sam Darcy. The young forward has clearly put on muscle, and his athleticism was on show in the first half. There were three strong marks, including one over Zach Reid, and one goal. He appears set for a break-out season.

Aaron Naughton collides with Bomber Mason Redman.Credit: Getty Images

Cody Weightman had been a modified program because of a sore knee but had his typical bounce while playing less than half of the game inside attacking 50. Aaron Naughton enjoyed the run, the key forward having been on a modified program before Christmas because of his knee, then had a calf strain and a bout of glandular fever through the festive period.

Prime movers Marcus Bontempelli, Bailey Dale and Tom Liberatore did not play, but are expected to line up against Hawthorn in their community series clash in Launceston on February 27. Heading into his 12th season, the Bulldogs are determined to keep Bontempelli fit and fresh.

Western Bulldogs assistant coach Brendon Lade said the club expected Jamarra Ugle-Hagan to return to training on Monday, as the player said in Perth on Thursday.

Ugle-Hagan was in Perth for the Indigenous All Stars match against Fremantle, although he did not play, to be with his Indigenous peers.

He has rarely trained with his teammates over summer because of a personal issue, revealing he had been dealing with “psychology stuff”, having had his “ups and downs” with family loss and the commitment required to train.

“It’s good to see he is happy, and he is over in Perth at the moment with all of the Indigenous boys. He sounds excited to come back to training on Monday, and we look forward to him being here,” Lade said.

Elijah Tsatas puts pressure on the Bulldogs’ Dom Brew.Credit: Getty Images

Ready to roll
Dylan Shiel, 32, has had a wretched run with injury, restricted to 12 games in 2023 and nine last year. He weighed up his future late last year, and admitted there had been interest from St Kilda. Determined to finish his career with the Bombers, Shiel was in excellent touch in a new role across half-back, using his run, ball handling and smarts to have a major impact. This move allowed Ben Hobbs and Elijah Tsatas to join skipper Zach Merrett, in superb touch, in the midfield.

Ruck ‘n’ roll
Just how the Bombers utilise their big men is an intriguing watch. Sam Draper, the No.1 ruck, began forward, with Nick Bryan taking the centre bounce. The two worked well together in the first half. Forward Peter Wright, the forgotten 2022 best and fairest, was introduced after the main break. Wright managed only 14 games last season, and faces a fight to return to the side this year. “The competition for spots is elite … but I reckon Pete will have a massive year,” Heppell said.

Isaac Kako showed plenty of spark.Credit: Getty Images

New cult hero
Draper, complete with mullet and moustache, has been a cult hero at Tullamarine, but speedy recruit Isaac Kako may soon find himself in the mix. Taken with pick No.13 in last year’s national draft, Kako, a life-long Essendon fan and one-time Calder Cannon, is the pressure forward the Bombers have craved. He also knows how to score. That was reinforced when he found a teammate free behind the play in the second term, followed up and snapped successfully from about 30m, giving the Bombers their fourth straight goal. Nate Caddy and Archie Perkins joined Kako up forward, as the new-look attack adjusts to life without Jake Stringer.

Essendon 1.1 6.5 8.7 11.11 (77)
Western Bulldogs 3.2 4.5 6.8 8.10 (58)

GOALS
Western Bulldogs: West, Darcy, Richards, Naughton, Jones, Poulter, O’Donnell, Vandermeer
Essendon: Edwards 4, Perkins 2, Draper 2, Menzie, Kako, Caddy

McAdam’s injury blow

Roy Ward

Melbourne forward Shane McAdam ruptured his Achilles during match play at training on Friday and will be sidelined for an extended period.

The Demons confirmed on Saturday that the 29-year-old former Adelaide player had had a setback and will have surgery.

Demons general manager of football performance Alan Richardson said the club would support McAdam as he began his recovery.

“Shane went to accelerate during match play on Friday, and has unfortunately ruptured his Achilles tendon in the process,” Richardson said.

Melbourne’s Shane McAdam.Credit: Getty

“This is an incredibly disappointing outcome for Shane, who was starting to get some real momentum and confidence in his body, following a strong pre-season.

“Shane will meet with a surgeon in the coming days, with the view to undergo surgery. From here, we will have a greater understanding of what his recovery timelines will look like.

“We will wrap our arms around Shane and fully support him throughout this next period.”

McAdam has battled injuries including quad and ankle complaints since being drafted by the Crows as a mature-age player in 2018. He crossed to Melbourne late in 2023 looking to win a spot in the forward line but suffered a hamstring early last season and only played three games.

O’Sullivan, Whitlock make case for Roo debuts

Roy Ward

North Melbourne are confident defender Aidan Corr will be fit for round one while first-round draft picks Finn O’Sullivan and Matt Whitlock made their cases for senior debuts in an intra-club match on Saturday.

Roos coach Alastair Clarkson watched from above as the club’s blue probables side had a comfortable win over the pink side, although a few players including Finnbar Maley and Taylor Goad switched from pink to blue in the second half.

Harry Sheezel, Colby McKercher and Luke Parker all led the way in midfield while veteran recruits Caleb Daniel and Jack Darling looked comfortable in their defensive and forward roles respectively.

Small forward Robert Hansen jnr impressed with his speed kicking several goals and showing the pace the Roos forward line has struggled for in recent seasons while Sheezel and McKercher both looked dangerous when pushing forward after shifts in the midfield.

With star midfielder George Wardlaw still expected to miss several weeks of the season as he recovers from a hamstring injury, Corr was one of the few first team players under a cloud after finger surgery.

But Corr played the first half and spent the second stanza running the boundary line, and stopped to show some supporters how his finger was progressing or to offer some advice to teammates.

Roos assistant coach Jed Adcock said Corr would be fit for round one while Whitlock, who played with the full match with the first-choice defenders, was making his case to play against the Western Bulldogs.

“Corr will be right for round one, but we do have a lot of depth in our big backs now,” Adcock said.

“Whitlock has fit in really well, he can play forward or back. He did some really nice things but whether he plays round one or not, that’s a different story.

“We’re facing Sam Darcy, Aaron Naughton and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, if he is available to play, so that’ll be a pretty strong forward line to be playing against, if he plays.”

Roos midfielder Bailey Scott praised Hansen jnr and Maley, the son of former NBL import Paul Maley, for his elite marking skills but Maley struggled to convert his shots for goal.

“Finnbar is one of the best marks I’ve seen – he is a bit uncanny but he just clunks everything,” Scott said.

“Should he get an opportunity [to debut] he will definitely impress with some marks.

“Robbie has worked hard to improved his work rate and his fitness levels and it showed as the game went on today as he still had that run.”

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