AFL 2024: Nate Caddy to make Essendon debut, Jordan Ridley returns

Essendon will hand a prime time debut to a top draft pick as a star prepares to return following months on the sidelines.

Top Essendon draft pick Nate Caddy will make his AFL debut in the Dreamtime game on Saturday night as star defender Jordan Ridley was declared a certain starter.

Caddy, 18, will play his long awaited first senior game after he immediately impressed in his first pre-season but was hampered by successive back injuries following heavy landings from marking contests during training.

The 193cm forward, who was drafted with pick 10 last year, will come into the Bombers’ side along with Ridley after the important interceptor played half a game in the VFL last week.

Before telling Caddy he would debut at training on Wednesday, Bombers coach Brad Scott told reporters he was weighing up an opportunity for the forward or young ruckman Nick Bryan to replace Harry Jones following his one-week suspension.

Get around him ❤️🖤 https://t.co/uG5EsC2LVEpic.twitter.com/fdz3f6IhwD

— Essendon FC (@essendonfc) May 22, 2024

The 193cm forward, who was drafted with pick 10 last year, will come into the Bombers’ side along with Ridley after the important interceptor played half a game in the VFL last week.

“(Caddy) has had a really productive three weeks, and he’s been in good form,” Scott said.

“We know he’s capabilities … it’ll be a combination of structure, personnel, whether we go a bit taller or smaller,” Scott said.

Scott said Ridley had ticked all boxes in his comeback from a third consecutive quad injury, with the procession of injuries keeping him sidelined since round 19 last season.

“He’ll just play … we were very conservative with him, felt he could’ve probably played the GWS game but we waited another week,” he said.

Essendon star defender Jordan Ridley hasn’t played at AFL level since round 19 last season, but will return against Richmond on Saturday night. Picture: Daniel Pockett / Getty Images

“He wanted to play last week; we felt a half in the VFL was the best ramp back to playing, so he started this week knowing he was playing AFL footy … he’ll come back in.”

In-form midfielder Sam Durham tested out his sore ankle and showed no signs of discomfort during Wednesday’s training session as he tried to prove his fitness for the clash against the Tigers.

Scott said he “understood the predicament” Richmond was facing, with possibly fewer than 25 players to choose from for the MCG clash.

“We just prepare for every team at their best, and Richmond still have a lot of quality, really good personnel,” he said.

“But do I have sympathy? I spoke last year to the predicament (West Coast coach) Adam Simpson was in.

“It’s very difficult to coach unavailability – you can only coach what’s at your disposal, and Adam went through that the last couple of years … (Richmond coach) Adem Yze is faced with that challenge right now.”

Originally published as AFL 2024: Nate Caddy to make Essendon debut, Jordan Ridley returns