By Scott Spits
It’s been a classic case of if the opportunity knocks, take your chance.
In a season in which Essendon’s list has been savaged by injury like few others before – outside of the years when expansion teams joined the competition – the Bombers this year have given debuts to the highest number of players since Fitzroy in 1991.
Liam McMahon of the Bombers celebrates a goal.Credit: Getty Images
The Bombers were all in at the mid-season draft in May, using all of their four selections to pick up Archie May, Lachlan Blakiston, Oskar Smartt and Liam McMahon with picks 6, 13, 17 and 18 respectively.
While Essendon endured a frustrating time against GWS Giants at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night as early inaccuracy in front of goal cost them any chance of a miraculous victory, the game and the club’s unique circumstances at least gave Essendon a chance to expose the final of their four picks to the highest form of the game in the AFL.
This week in the countdown to the round 19 opening game, Essendon had 17 players unavailable for selection. Emerging young forward Nate Caddy was among those who could not be considered due to soreness.
Caddy’s absence in particular allowed the Bombers to play McMahon, a noted goal-kicker in the VFL who was drafted by Collingwood with pick No.31 in 2020 before being delisted two years later.
The now 23-year-old then joined Carlton’s VFL program, still hopeful of fulfilling his AFL dream. Quirkily, after being drafted by the Bombers only weeks ago, he’s played VFL footy at both clubs this year.
In heart-warming scenes at Marvel Stadium, not only did McMahon – Essendon’s 13th debutant in 2025 – boot the club’s first goal at the 25-minute mark of the second quarter (the Bombers were struggling to hit the side of a barn with their early shots and at one stage trailed 0.8 [8] to GWS 8.1 [49] – he made it back-to-back goals with the first major after half-time.
When he landed his first goal with a delightful kick, his family and friends in the stands were overjoyed.
“It means everything,” McMahon said in the rooms post-match. “I can’t wait to see the footage after it [after the game]. I looked up on the big screen and I saw everyone carrying on. It made my heart skip a beat. That’s what I wanted to play for.
Liam McMahon of the Bombers is embraced by family and friends after the match against the GWS Giants.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
“[It’s] obviously for [my] fulfilment … to be able to say I can play AFL football. But yeah to see their faces and everything was just the best moment.”
Essendon coach Brad Scott was not surprised that McMahon made an impact in front of goal.
“He’s got a lot of really good attributes, Liam. Kicking is certainly one of them. He’s a beautiful kick, accurate kick, penetrating kick,” Scott said.
“We had a very strong suspicion that he’d find a way to hit the scoreboard because he just has [at] every level he’s played at.
“I’m not sure there has ever been a player who’s led the goalkeeping in the VFL for two separate clubs in the same season. You have to be doing something right to be able to do that.”
McMahon is content to “live in the moment” for the next 24 hours after finally getting his chance.
“Yeah, definitely I thought it [my opportunity] wouldn’t come. There were times after being delisted in Collingwood, you know, you can have the mindset of going back to suburban footy and just kind of cashing in there and getting a normal, stable job and just kind of like floating through the system,” he said.
“But no, I knew that I wanted to achieve my dream. It’s something that I wanted for my friends and family, more than, more than me, to see them, you know, pre game as well. It was such a special moment. It’s [been] a really tough journey, but I’m grateful for being here.”
Last round after Essendon lost to Richmond in a much-mocked clash at the MCG, Scott expanded on the difficulties of coaching Essendon with a list that has been brutally challenged. After the defeat to GWS, there was more of a hint however of the club embracing or in fact capitalising on the tough circumstances.
Jake Stringer of the Giants runs with the ball during the round 19 AFL match between Essendon Bombers and GWS Giants.Credit: Getty Images
“We don’t really want to dwell on the challenges or the negatives,” Scott said.
“We actually want to rise to the challenge and be a no-excuse football club. And the message is the same. We’d like to have better availability, but we field 23 fit players every week. And we give opportunity to guys who deserve it.
“But the guys who are coming in [have earned their opportunity]. Liam McMahon has earned his opportunity. It hasn’t been gifted to him.”
Asked if there were “silver linings” to exposing new players to the system including the mid-season draftees, Scott said there was “no doubt”.
“We’re always trying to find ways to take steps forward and continue to get better as a team,” he said.
“A lot of supporters [would] watch us play tonight and watch some of the players. I don’t think anyone could fault their effort and intent and in their ability to compete. They certainly could question some of our execution, and we’ll keep working with them on that.
“Blakiston is another one I’d put in that category you know, we’re asking a guy to come who drafted him as a ruck, to come in and play as a rough backup, and he’s playing as a key defender and doing, I think, a pretty good job in the circumstances.
“We’re really keen to see him in the ruck.”
McMahon has waited nearly five years for his moment. He’ll enjoy this weekend but maintains he won’t immediately re-cast his AFL career aspirations
“Live in the moment for the next 24 hours,” he said.
“I’m not going to look too far ahead because I’ve looked too far ahead in the past and hasn’t gone my way. So I’ll just take it one step at a time.”
Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.