Essendon’s kids, captain and the biggest free pass in footy

While Michael Voss fights for his job and Ross Lyon fends off critics, Brad Scott is left alone in exploration mode. This is Essendon version of Carlton’s ‘green shoots’ era, writes Jay Clark.

Essendon has the biggest free pass in footy.

For a club which hasn’t won a final in 20 years, there has been barely a murmur from the fan base about a season which has continued in almost a vacuum of any expectation in 2025.

While Simon Goodwin’s job was on the line in round five, Michael Voss is fighting to save his gig at Carlton, and the Saints’ direction under Ross Lyon has been repeatedly questioned, Essendon’s Brad Scott has been in exploration mode in season three.

The club has played 11 debutants amid a crippling injury list and deployed their inspirational captain and best player, Zach Merrett, in a back and forward flank role over the past five weeks for four losses and one win over Richmond.

This isn’t tanking, clearly.

No one fights and scraps harder for the Sherrin than Merrett.

And he’d be disappointed, if not devastated, to some degree by the lack of finals success over the years.

But from a broader club perspective, this looks and feels like some sort of AFL gap year.

It’s the red and black version of Carlton’s “green shoots” era.

There have been six wins, a mounting pile of soft tissue injuries, which will lead to a high performance department revamp at season’s end, and the emergence of some exciting young talents like Archie Roberts, Nate Caddy, Isaac Kako, Zak Johnson and Angus Clarke.

Essendon, to be fair, has been in, or at least around the mark, in most games, save from a round 14 pounding from Geelong, a 91-point whitewash from Western Bulldogs in round 10 and the round two 61-point no-show against Adelaide.

But the general level of competitiveness has sounded not one alarm from the footy world.

Behind it all, is a clear-as-day public relations masterclass.

What is perhaps most impressive about this period at Essendon is that it has conducted a full-blown rebuild in plain sight without ever mentioning the r-word.

Not in one single press conference has Scott, or any other club leader, mentioned the club is in rebuild mode.

Instead, the focus is on the draft. Developing young talent. And aiming for a period of sustainable success.

They’re taking one step back to move two steps forward. No more short-cuts, the club has repeatedly said.

So when the fans go to the footy on Saturday to watch the game against Gold Coast, the emphasis will not be on the scoreboard.

Supporters have been conditioned to growth and development.

Patience and understanding. It’s all about the kids and the catapult in coming years.

Essendon coach Brad Scott has been in exploration mode in season three. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos

Even Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes, the most searing and unforgiving analyst in the game who has stepped from one no-frills confrontation to another this season, said the Bombers were developing into a “powerhouse” along the same lines as Hawthorn, so bright was their future over the next three years.

To their credit, Caddy looks like footy’s next rock star with his peroxide blond hair, big clunking marks, and on-ground confidence.

His dedication and work ethic has elevated him into Essendon’s top running group and his thirst for football knowledge swayed him to pull aside St Kilda champion Nick Riewoldt on live television for tips on body position.

Nate Caddy’s brilliant over the head goal against the Lions

Recently, one of Caddy’s teammates gave him a not-so-subtle clip in front of others about knuckling down even more, which did not go down particularly well for a young man rising fast in only his second season.

But in any case, Caddy is Essendon’s second-most important asset and his next contract will be seven figures.

Likewise, Roberts looks a gem, and his performance this year has flown well under the radar for someone who is looking like a 200-game run-and-rebound machine.

Kako’s development has been steady rather than spectacular, with eight goals from 14 games.

So, while the club is on track to record its lowest percentage (currently 77.5 per cent) since the top-up year of 2016, these “green shoots” do indeed look promising.

But when does the free pass run out and the expectation rise?

Young Bombers Isaac Kako and Archie Roberts celebrate. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

The one man is who is most important in all of this is Merrett, footy’s most patient man.

He’s been faultless in front of the cameras as one of the best two-way midfielders in the game who will almost certainly make his return to the engine room against Gold Coast on Saturday at Marvel Stadium.

Jordan Ridley returns to the back line and Sam Durham can play midfield-forward, ensuring Merrett will get his onball licence back.

But he needs all the help and support he can get.

That much was clear when he caught up with a bunch of Essendon captains James Hird, Matthew Lloyd, Jobe Watson and Dyson Heppell in May for some external advice as he tracks towards his 250th game in the final match of the season against either Carlton at the MCG or Gold Coast at People’s First Stadium.

He’d be frustrated and feeling torn.

Merrett doing his best work in the midfield in round 3

And then turning over a kick-in against the Blues

The Essendon elevator has experienced all sorts of ups and downs over the past decade and, while it is not exactly back at the ground floor, Merrett would dearly love a look at the penthouse for the first time in his 12-year career.

Last year, Merrett said goodbye to good mate Jake Stringer for pick 53 which was unequivocally the right call.

And in a few months, history could repeat with ruckman Sam Draper, who remains unsigned, amid strong interest from Adelaide and Brisbane Lions.

As an unrestricted free agent, Essendon can’t match a bid and force a trade. It means Draper goes if he wants.

Merrett, 29, would surely be hoping Draper stays.

And the four-year offer from Essendon is believed to be worth about $700,000-a-year.

But Draper, 26, would earn more money to leave, and not only is Brisbane currently partying in the penthouse for the third-straight season, Adelaide is also about to enjoy the view from the top floors after seven years out of the eight.

It leaves Merrett considering the impact another round of Essendon draftees can make if the recruiters can hit the nail on the head in a weak draft with picks five (from Melbourne), six and seven (potential Draper compensation), if the ruckman’s new salary triggers first-round compensation.

Then there’s exasperated playmaker Darcy Parish who will also attract interest from rival clubs amid a continued run of soft tissue problems.

The injuries to the guns such as Kyle Langford, Zach Reid, Ridley, Ben McKay and Parish etc, has provided more cover in the public discourse for the gap year exploration mission.

The Bombers’ defensive numbers are poor again this year as they attempt to defend with the ball in hand.

They keep the ball off the opposition and have had the most number of disposals on average per game for the second-least number of inside 50s.

They are also last for total clearances and centre clearances.

But again injuries to Jye Caldwell and Parish have hit hard in the engine room.

Archie Perkins has gone backwards this year, too. Merrett has been stranded on a flank, recently.

Darcy Parish is injured again. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

So the club knows it needs some new top-liners in the midfield and forward half to lead its charge up the ladder.

You know the Bombers’ timeline because the key leaders including Scott are all extended to 2027 after turning over almost half the list in three years, making it one of the youngest teams in the league on a weekly basis this year.

So the free pass rolls on. The Essendon kids’ education continues. And perhaps the first lot of exams will start next year.

Headmaster Merrett desperately hopes the young Bombers all pass.

Originally published as Essendon’s kids, captain and the biggest free pass in footy