Essendon’s depth not an issue but desperate need for more A-grade talent clear

Essendon didn’t disgrace themselves against a superior side away from home. But it is clear what the club is lacking — and Brad Scott’s legacy depends on it.

The B-graders aren’t the problem, what A-graders Essendon can acquire and develop in the coming years will decide Brad Scott’s legacy.

On a night when no-one expected much from the Bombers with a badly depleted team making the trek to Perth to take on Fremantle, the glass half-full observers would come away saying they could see some light.

How far the end of the tunnel is will be decided with what Essendon can pull off in the trade and draft period because their depth is encouraging with some potentially handy foot soldiers getting valuable minutes during the current injury crisis.

With 13 players on the injury list, the Bombers blooded their 11th debutant – ruckman Vigo Visentini – which is the fifth most in AFL history.

Visentini toiled away against his superior opponent. Picture: Getty Images

That buys time and Scott will know matches like this are important for the development of the underbelly in his squad. Plenty of his kids had moments.

Despite Fremantle ruckman Luke Jackson having the best game of his season, Visentini showed plenty. He had the ball on a string in the first 10 minutes and then threw his weight around throughout the night impressively.

“I thought he was terrific against a really good player,” Scott said about his rookie big man.

Mid-season draftees Archie May and Lachie Blakiston are big boys who did plenty right. May is going to take a while to get out of the shadow of Dermott Brereton – his mum’s partner, a fact mentioned every time the kid goes near the ball – but he has good hands and a thumping kick.

Archer May's first AFL goal 🤩

📺 Watch #AFLFreoDons on ch.504 or on Kayo: https://t.co/a2w407BF0Y
✍️ BLOG https://t.co/h21hpbKBTv
🔢 MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/Y0VoFThMWspic.twitter.com/W0NY3JseWe

— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) June 19, 2025

Blakiston is a bit ungainly but competes hard. Wingman Luamon Lual does some smart things while Archie Roberts has serious skills and a good penchant for getting in the face of his opposition.

Goalsneak Isaac Kako continues to do things each week which show why he was such a high draft pick but the big question for Scott is are there any superstars in this batch of youngsters?

One is a certainty with Nate Caddy showing again he enjoys the bright lights of Thursday night football.

A month ago he lit up the Gabba against the reigning premiers Brisbane in what was his best game of his short career and against the Dockers he again did some special things which has A+ written all over it.

“Caddy, gee whiz,” former Fremantle champion Matthew Pavlich said in commentary. “This guy is going to be a star, seriously.”

Nate Caddy 😮‍💨#AFLFreoDonspic.twitter.com/MmTmfjNQSK

— 7AFL (@7AFL) June 19, 2025

That’s the positive spin on the 41-point loss – an improvement on last week’s 95-point humiliation by Geelong – with Scott saying he was pleased with a lot of the game, particularly the way they fought back a number of times when the Dockers threatened to open them up.

He recognised the efforts of his undermanned defence against a wave of inside 50s from the Dockers who finished the night +23. They also had a handy advantage in other key areas including +29 hit-outs, +18 clearances, +9 centre clearances and +9 stoppage clearances.

Brad Scott addresses his players. Picture: Getty Images

The fortunes of the respective captains also had a fair bearing on the result with Fremantle’s acting skipper Caleb Serong enhancing his Brownlow credentials with a best-on-ground 35 touches and two goals while Zach Merrett was quiet, subdued by Corey Wagner with just 17 possessions.

But it’s the big picture which Essendon fans are concerned with and there needs to be some serious urgency around finding the required A-grade talent to become a legitimate finals team.

Merrett is definitely one while Nic Martin is at least creeping into that conversation but then there is trouble.

A look at the injury list has some quality players like Kyle Langford, Jordan Ridley and Sam Draper on it but they’re not A-graders while high-price recruit Ben McKay has been a bust so far. Youngster Harrison Jones showed briefly he had the potential to get there but once again his body has given away.

Snaring a big-name free agent is crucial over the next 12 to 24 months.

Could Matt Rowell solve Essendon’s A-grade problem? Picture: Getty Images

Harley Reid has connections to the Bombers. Picture: Getty Images

They are in a long list who have spoken to Gold Coast star Matt Rowell, they’ve put their name in there for Port defender Miles Bergman and are considered high up the pecking order for West Coast superstar Harley Reid but he’s more likely to be 12 months away if he decides to leave Perth.

Importantly, they have the draft capital in November as well with two first-round and two second-round selections.

And if Draper leaves, as many predict, they will get another decent compensation pick.

That’s exciting and when you put all of that together with the evidence of Thursday night giving a glimpse of the Bombers depth, there is an argument to be made that Scott’s team is already in a better position than many think.