The 13 new Bombers behind Essendon’s record-equalling 2025

Not since Fitzroy in 1991 has any team fielded more debutants than Essendon in a season. But who are they? What makes them tick? And what does the future hold? Get to know each one here.

Liam McMahon knows that Essendon’s almost unprecedented injury crisis this season paved the way for the opportunity that he has waited most of his life for.

It just made him more determined than ever to grasp it with both hands.

The 23-year-old forward, who kicked a goal with his first kick in league football last week, was the Bombers’ 13th debutant in 2025 – a number that equals the record set by Fitzroy in 1991 (other than expansion clubs) for the most first-gamers in a season since the VFL changed its name to the AFL in 1990.

McMahon has had to be patient, having been a surprise delisting from Collingwood at the end of 2022, and having spent two and a half years kicking goals for Carlton’s VFL side.

As he said when he gathered with the rest of the 13 Essendon 2025 debutants for a photo for, the experience the young Bombers are getting this year is a silver lining on what has been a challenging season for the club.

“I’m a realist, I know I’m here because of the injuries, but that’s the nature of the mid-season draft,” a grateful McMahon explained as he and his teammates prepared to take on Western Bulldogs on Friday.

“Having gone through the setbacks and getting delisted, that was the hardest bit. To get the flick (from Collingwood) when I was touted as a development player was a little bit upsetting, but it has made me tougher as a person.

“For it to turn out the way it did, I couldn’t have asked for more. It’s a unique story, but it’s my story and for me to get this opportunity now, I couldn’t be more grateful.”

Essendon has blooded at least one debutant in 11 of its 17 games this season off the back of a lengthy injury list that has seen the club win just six matches so far.

But what it has done is fast-track the stories of these 13 players, with the club confident some of them can be mainstays for years to come.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Luamon Lual

Welcome to the AFL moment: I would say, I fumbled it at a stoppage in front of Cripps. He just said, “don’t fumble, or don’t (f****ing) fumble or something like that.

What would you be if you weren’t an AFL player? I’d probably be studying at uni full-time and living in Melbourne. Studying business.

Ideal day off? Sit at a cafe for about 2 hours and just chew the fat with a mate or a teammate, and then get some treatment, go for a walk, go to the beach if it’s a nice day, pretty cruisy.

Your Café order? Strong oat latte and chilli scramble.

First autograph you ever asked for? I’m gonna say maybe Buku Khamis.

What was your Jnr number? 5, I think

Most used app on your phone? Instagram

Who at the club do you go to for advice? Chris Byrne (Player Development And Welfare Manager)

Who’s the messiest Don? Lewis Hayes, I live with him.

Lachie Blakiston

Welcome to the AFL moment: Apart from draft night, probably my first game, being out on an AFL field for the first time, against an AFL opposition. The MCG.

What would you be if you weren’t an AFL player? I’m studying maths and stats so something in that realm.

Ideal day off? Just a coffee in the morning and relaxing at home with my partner Sophie.

First autograph you ever asked for? Probably Nic Naitanui, that’s the one that springs to mind.

What was your Jnr number? I think it was 8, I liked Beau Waters back in the day for West Coast.

Most used app on your phone? Oh, probably TikTok.

Who at the club do you go to for advice? Andy McGrath, he’s got a wise head on his shoulders.

Who’s the messiest Don? Oskar Smartt

Isaac Kako

Welcome to the AFL moment: Running out on my debut for sure

What would you be if you weren’t an AFL player? Homeless

Ideal day off? Spending time with my nephew

First autograph you ever asked for? Probably David Zaharakis

What was your Jnr number? Number 11, because my brother was number 11

Most used app on your phone? Instagram

Who at the club do you go to for advice? Travis Varcoe

Who’s the messiest Don? Oskar Smartt

Archer Day-Wicks

Welcome to the AFL moment:When Todd Goldstein greeted me at the door

What would you be if you weren’t an AFL player? A barman

Ideal day off? Have a hit of golf and go for a coffee with Zak Johnson

First autograph you ever asked for? Ivan Maric from Richmond

What was your Jnr number? My junior number was 14. I just liked the number, I like even numbers.

Who at the club do you go to for advice? Oskar Smartt is pretty knowledgeable. I go to him a little bit, maybe Todd Goldstein, he’s been around the block.

Who’s the messiest Don? Angus Clarke, he’s got boots coming out of his locker, it’s unfathomable.

Vigo Visentini

Welcome to the AFL moment: The first centre bounce against Luke Jackson in my first game, that was pretty real, definitely that. (At) Optus Stadium so very loud, all the Freo fans.

What would you be if you weren’t an AFL player? I’d like to think basketballer, although I’m not very good, so maybe a physiotherapist.

Ideal day off? I reckon go for a walk with the dog, grab a coffee maybe out of breaky, spend time with family and friends.

First autograph you ever asked for? It would’ve been either Jack Riewoldt or Alex Rance from the Tigers.

What was your Jnr number? I had number 18, that’s because I was a big Richmond fan and a big fan of Alex Rance, played a lot of defence. I had number 20 as well… big fan of Ivan Maric as well.

Most used app on your phone? Spotify, always listen to music in the car.

Who at the club do you go to for advice? I’d say Andy McGrath or Todd Goldstein as well, he’s a wise, wise man, big Toddy.

Who’s the messiest Don? Maybe Rhys Unwin, I share a locker next to him.

Angus Clarke

Welcome to the AFL moment: When Brad Scott called at breakfast, it didn’t sink in until I went to bed that night.

What would you be if you weren’t an AFL player? Well, I would be a farmer back home.

Don’t you build houses? I help out, I was doing work experience, but I’m hoping to start buying some houses and flipping them.

Ideal day off? Probably hang with Mason (Redman) or try and do something building or go do some work experience.

First autograph you ever asked for? It was pretty cool getting a signature from Zach Merrett on the guernsey.

What was your Jnr number? I had so many, number 2, 35, 16, 19, I had all of them, but number 2 was the most memorable one (it) was my first.

Most used app on your phone? Has to be Snapchat, has to be.

Who at the club do you go to for advice? Mason Redman, but he doesn’t give US much advice, mostly just takes the piss out of me.

Who’s the messiest Don? Probably Rhys Unwin, at home and at the club, him and Kayle (Gerreyn) in the laundry, they just chuck their clothes on the ground.

Angus Clarke kicks his first AFL goal

Oskar Smartt

Welcome to the AFL moment: It would’ve been when I rang my mum and she was in tears when I told her.

What would you be if you weren’t an AFL player? Probably a trade, builder.

Ideal day off? Would be going off with my dog, taking him to the beach for a swim. I’ve got a border collie.

First autograph you ever asked for? It was Nate Caddy last year in my first VFL game with him, it was for my little brother. The only signature I’ve ever asked for.

What was your Jnr number? It was number 1, because I thought I was better than everyone else. Which wasn’t true.

Most used app on your phone? TikTok or Instagram

Who at the club do you go to for advice? Mazy, he thinks he’s a smart fella, but probably (Michael) Hurley or Clokey (Travis Cloke).

Who’s the messiest Don? Mazy 100%.

Zak Johnson

Welcome to the AFL moment: On draft night when I got called out, being with my family, and I had Ricky Dyson come over who was my school teacher, he played for Essendon as well so that was pretty cool.

What would you be if you weren’t an AFL player? I would’ve liked to play in the NBA.

How tall are you? Not tall enough.

What position? Shooting guard, 3 balls, knock them down.

Which team would you want to play for? Whoever gives me the most money.

Ideal day off? Catch up with mates, take my dog for a walk, nothing too exciting. I’ve got a pug x beagle.

First autograph you ever asked for? I couldn’t tell you, I went for Hawthorn growing up so probably someone from there.

What was your Jnr number? Number 9 and number 3. Number 3 because my dad wore number 3 and then I just liked number 9.

Most used app on your phone? Netflix, big Netflix person. I just rewatched Money Heist, that’s a cracker, good show.

Who at the club do you go to for advice? Go to would be Nic Martin, smart fella.

Who’s the messiest Don? Nate Caddy, comfortably.

Archie May

Welcome to the AFL moment: Running out on debut at the ‘G, it was pretty surreal. The draft was only 2 weeks before.

What would you be if you weren’t an AFL player? Before I got drafted, I was (doing) financial planning, a bit of admin stuff so probably still that.

Ideal day off? Walk, coffee, sauna, then catch up with mates, play golf.

First autograph you ever asked for? Chris Dawes from Collingwood.

What was your Jnr number? I was number 7 and 9, I picked 9 because Patrick Cripps, love the way he goes about it.

Most used app on your phone? Probably Google Maps, lot of driving.

Who at the club do you go to for advice? Peter Wright (we) play a similar position; he’s done pretty well over the years, and he’s pretty mature.

Who’s the messiest Don? Liam McMahon, yeah pretty dirty locker and messy eater.

Liam McMahon

Welcome to the AFL moment: Last Thursday night making my debut, walking into the goal square and seeing the Essendon cheer squad up and about that was pretty cool.

What would you be if you weren’t an AFL player? I’d be a personal trainer, I just recently got qualified, the week I got drafted so I’d be doing that.

Ideal day off? Nice sleep in, get up, make some breaky and just dag around, not do too much.

First autograph you ever asked for? My first signature that I got was a Matthew Richardson. I was a big Tigers fan.

What was your Jnr number? I had 14 and 2. 14 just because I think it was the first number I saw, and I liked it. 2 because I’m born on the 2nd, my dad is born on the 2nd, and all my family relatives have the number two in their birthday.

Most used app on your phone? TikTok or Snapchat.

Who at the club do you go to for advice? Yeah, a couple of the boys, probably Peter Wright, being that nice and experienced key forward, lean on him.

Who’s the messiest Don? Oskar Smartt. I sit next to him in the lockers, and there’s just everything everywhere.