Essendon season 2025 preview: Josh Barnes breaks down where the Bombers sit

Essendon have been stuck in mediocrity for over 20 years. Is it finally time they rise in 2025? JOSH BARNES names their best side, breakout star, player under pressure and much more.

Where do the Dons really sit?

It ended up being another season of disappointment for Essendon fans in 2024.

After such a bright start, the all-too-familiar tale of falling apart towards the back-end of the season was told again.

Where to now?

Josh Barnes analyses where the Bombers are at, where they’re headed and everything in between.

Sam Durham had a terrific 2024. Picture: Mark Stewart

SURPRISE PACKET OF 2024

Mid-season draftee Sam Durham blossomed from an intriguing prospect to a genuine breakout midfielder in 2024. His numbers jumped across the board as he showed off traits of being the type of athletic, big-bodied midfielder every club craves. Durham paired well with Jye Caldwell, who enjoyed clearly the best season of his career so far, living up to some considerable hype. Dons fans will hope the duo can help lead Essendon forward in the middle.

Sam Durham coming through 😤#AFLEaglesDonspic.twitter.com/LTF1ksrExx

— AFL (@AFL) May 4, 2024

INS AND OUTS

IN: 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)

OUT: 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)

2025 BEST TEAM

Midfield depth is no issue for Brad Scott, who will leave out a number of decent players should he have a full list to play with this year. The likes of Dylan Shiel, Ben Hobbs, Matt Guelfi and Will Setterfield may have some work to do to break into the team. Plus rucks Nick Bryan and Todd Goldstein are also around, and Brad Scott likes to play two rucks when he can. But the keys are a question. Is Peter Wright capable of getting back to his best, and can Nate Caddy and Harry Jones provide enough support?

Ben McKay was OK in his first year at Essendon, Jordan Ridley is an important leader, so can Jaxon Prior, Nik Cox and Jayden Laverde provide the support? Zach Reid’s never-ending fitness question makes him the last picked. Alwyn Davey Jr and Jye Menzie have been hard workers so far in pre-season but Saad El-Hawli and Archie Roberts should be keeping those runners out.

Sam Draper needs a big 2025. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

WHO’S PLAYING FOR A CONTRACT?

Ruck Sam Draper was hampered by injury last pre-season and was only average during the campaign. He comes out of contract at the end of 2025 and murmurs have begun about Adelaide trying to lure him back home. Draper should be hitting his prime now, at 26 years of age and with 73 games under his belt.

Sam Draper 🤝 Yusuf Dikec 🇹🇷#AFLDonsSunspic.twitter.com/4WjZXNh43X

— AFL (@AFL) August 10, 2024

The market for rucks has been up and down but if he can step into All-Australian level, he will line up a big payday. And at his age, it could be his only big contract. Each of Draper’s back-ups – Nick Bryan, Vigo Visentini and Todd Goldstein – are also out of contract. Harry Jones and Ben Hobbs will both be hoping for big seasons to line up contracts.

LAST YEAR IN CONTRACT

Sam Draper, Ben Hobbs, Dylan Shiel, Will Setterfield, Jayden Laverde, Todd Goldstein, Harry Jones, Nick Bryan, Jaxon Prior, Jye Menzie, Zach Reid, Alwyn Davey, Luamon Lual, Vigo Visentini, Saad El-Hawli, Archer Day-Wicks.

Isaac Kako fills a crucial need for the Dons. Picture: Getty Images

POSITION THAT NEEDS TO BE FILLED AND WHO CAN FILL IT?

The Bombers have been crying out for a star-level small forward for a long time. Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti filled the breach and he and Orazio Fantasia are the only smalls to kick more than 30 goals in a season over the past decade. You have to back a long, long way for the last 40-plus year from an Essendon small forward – Darren Bewick’s 52 goals in 1993. This is all not to heap pressure on Isaac Kako, who will take time to learn a position so tough it is often referred to as the ‘graveyard’. But Bombers fans will be desperate for signs of the deadly small forward Kako has been billed as on his way to the Dons.

BURNING QUESTION

Can they stop the fade-outs? Essendon won just three of its last 12 games this year, after winning just three of its last 10 in 2023. Both times, the Bombers let a September position slide away. That can’t happen again. If you polled Essendon fans as to whether the list is truly of finals quality, you would get a variance of answers. But a big slide in the backhalf of a season for the third year running would raise serious questions.