Essendon star Jye Caldwell says Bombers will take opportunities that awaits them in 2024

Last year the Dons sat fifth after Round 17 before bombing out of the top eight by season’s end. Star onballer Jye Caldwell says this time will be different. Plus see his take on the midfield mix.

Essendon has “addressed the opportunity” that lies ahead and has full confidence it will not fall off the cliff again like last season.

Midfielder Jye Caldwell told the Herald Sun that Saturday night’s 45-point loss to Geelong was an “outlier” as the Bombers look to book their ticket to September in the next two months.

The Dons sat fifth on the ladder after round 17 last year. But then they capitulated, losing five of the final seven games to bomb out of the top eight.

They have lost three of their past four games, but remain in the top four leading into Friday night’s blockbuster against Collingwood.

“I’ve got full confidence (last year won’t repeat),” Caldwell said.

“Obviously we’ve got eight games to go and (the Geelong loss) is an outlier. It’s pretty disappointing, because we want to get past that stage of what people are saying.

The Cats were too strong for the Bombers. Picture: Michael Klein

“We know that what happened last year wasn’t acceptable and we didn’t expect that to happen.

“Now we’re in a similar position and we know what’s ahead of us and we’re going to take every opportunity.”

Caldwell said the Bombers “let our foot off the gas” against the Cats.

“It a hard one to swallow. We’ve been playing such good footy and then to let ourselves down in that second half, it’s just not us,” Caldwell said.

The Bendigo boy recorded career highs for disposals (32), contested possessions (18), clearances (12) and tackles (12) against Geelong.

In the first 10 rounds Caldwell’s game time was a 52-48 per cent split between playing midfield and forward.

But since then it has been an 87-13 per cent midfield-forward split and he has relished the opportunity to play in the guts.

“It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while now. I’ve fluctuated roles a fair bit – bit of wing stuff, mid, forward,” he said.

“But to play majority mid the last four or five weeks is something that I’ve really enjoyed.

“It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do and me and ‘Duz’ (Sam Durham) have built a great connection in there.

Caldwell is enjoying a career best year. Picture: Getty Images

“But even Zachy (Merrett) and Archie Perkins and that, we have such a diverse group in there.

“We’re all pretty young, so it’s quite exciting.”

Champion Data’s ratings system does not have a Bomber ranked in the best 40 players in the competition – but they have seven rated between 41-70.

“That’s what you want,” Caldwell said of that evenness.

“Probably the last few years you’ve relied on Zachy Merrett, Darcy Parish to carry the load.

“Now you’ve got four or five guys who can all step up.”

The Bombers attempted to isolate Peter Wright in attacking 50m against the Cats with their other forwards told to clear out at stages. But the club is this week deciding whether to persist with playing all of Sam Draper, Todd Goldstein and Wright in the same team.