Bomber Barracks

Caddy signs on until 2031

Huge news. Everyone else can get in the bin. Something to celebrate.

Thanks to Essendon Football Club for the ace graphic

Bomber fans, the final team is in and Solly has made some bold calls ahead of Sunday’s clash with Brisbane.

The omissions are the biggest talking point.

Ben McKay, Will Setterfield, Saad El-Hawli and Nik Cox have all been left out, while Jordan Ridley won’t make the trip after being managed with soreness. It’s a curious decision given the ongoing speculation linking him with Brisbane.

On the positive side, Angus Clarke returns after a successful week in the VFL. Archie Roberts also returns sooner than expected from his shoulder injury, while Harry Jones, Max Kondogiannis and Lachie Blakiston have all earned recalls.

There’s plenty to unpack with this one. Which selection do you agree with most, and which one has you questioning the call?

Teams in!

Archie Roberts is back sooner than expected after his shoulder injury, while Angus Clarke has earned a deserved recall after a great comeback in the VFL. Harry Jones, Max Kondogiannis and Lachie Blakiston have also been added to the extended squad, but I expect none to play bar perhaps Kondo

Jordan Ridley has been “managed” after pulling up sore. An interesting decision given the growing speculation linking him with Brisbane.

Will Setterfield is the one omission of a very muddled midfield room.

What do you make of the Ridley call? Genuine precaution, or does the timing raise a few eyebrows?

Bomber fans…I take everything this so called reporter says with a pinch of…salt…

But if this is the list, with perhaps Solly, it’s a fair chance it goes one way…

Apparently, Hinkley and Longmire are full steam with Tassie (I think they’ll both go there in some capacity)

What do you think friends?

Bombers fans – injury update. The smallest injury list in ages…

There’s finally some positive news on the injury front.

Archie Roberts (shoulder) and Zak Johnson (foot) have both been listed as tests and could be available for Sunday’s clash with Brisbane if they get through Thursday’s main training.

Kyle Langford (quad), Rhys Unwin (hamstring) and Kayle Gerreyn (knee soreness) are all expected to be around a week away.

Peter Wright successfully got through his return game in the AFL, while Liam McMahon marked his comeback with four goals. Mid-season draftee Jaxon Artemis is also available again after missing a week with hamstring soreness.

Season-ending injuries remain for Brayden Fiorini, Archie May, Lewis Hayes and Nic Martin, while Thomas Edwards is still around three weeks away.

For the first time in what feels like forever, Essendon’s injury list is looking manageable.

Who are you most looking forward to seeing back in the senior side?

Bomber fans - oh boy!

As much as we shouldn’t be surprised, we are certainly continually disappointed.

The sacking of Brad was meant to have an immediate positive knock on effect…

Spoiler alert - it hasn’t.

Maybe, just maybe, he wasn’t the (sole) problem. The players has reacted to the opposite of supporters at his sacking. Why?

Well, he had their respect and convinced them to this course. Just because we didn’t believe in it, doesn’t mean they didn’t.

The result is one of complete and utter disarray and the worst football I’ve seen Essendon play in my life.

Disposal and effort are completely deplorable against any oppo that is trying. If Sportsbet had a market for first goal under a minute to the opposition Essendon played it would currently be 1.01.

By the way, they are trying. It’s just a raft of horror that stems back to changing the game plan post pre season, etc, etc.

I’m no hippy, but I might grab the sage stick and duck down to Tulla. Surely it’s built on a burial site?

So what now? We wait. The most orchestrated appointment of Hird approaches. You’ve got to admire it…whether you agree with it or not, it’s been quite the well played campaign….more on that tomorrow.

For today, we face our offices, family and friends yet again. Most of them don’t even bother to give us crap anymore. I think they may even feel sorry for us!

But from the ashes we shall rise…right?!

Go dons ❤️🖤

Hey 👋 Facebook has stopped spreading the page, and I can’t add people like I used to.

If you visit please like the post, I can send you an invite that way. It really helps!

Just awful - vent away respectfully

Bomber fans - The Midfield Muddle: I Just Can’t Get a Read on Us

Before we get into it, have a look at these numbers from the past month. Duz is our clear number one - I love that!

Player Centre Bounce Trend
Sam Durham 77% average (excluding his injury-affected 5% game)
Will Setterfield 30% → 79% → 91% → 52%
Dyson Sharp 0% → 52%
Jye Caldwell Injured → 30% on return
Zach Merrett 81% → 70% → 43% → 4%
Elijah Tsatas 74% → 67% → 43% → Out
Darcy Parish Unavailable through injury

The first thing worth pointing out is Sam Durham. His 5% centre bounce attendance was injury affected, so I don’t think it’s fair to include it. Remove that outlier and he’s averaging 77% of centre bounces over the past month, which tells us the coaches clearly see him as one of the first-picked midfielders.

After that, though, the picture becomes a lot less clear.

Setterfield looked like he’d finally cemented himself as our primary inside midfielder. His centre bounce attendances climbed from 30% to 79%, then 91% before the bye. It felt like the coaching panel had found something that worked.

Then we came back from the bye and everything changed.

Setterfield dropped back to 52% of centre bounces, while Dyson Sharp jumped to exactly the same figure.

That left me wondering whether we’re trying to split one role between two players.

I’m not convinced that’s the best outcome for either of them.

Setterfield is an inside midfielder. If you’re picking him, I’d argue you back him in to play that role. Likewise, if the club believes Sharp is ready, then give him the responsibility and let him learn. Trying to share those minutes risks making both players less influential.

Then there’s Elijah Tsatas.

It finally looked like he was getting an extended opportunity through the midfield. His centre bounce attendances climbed to 74%, 67% and 43%, giving supporters hope he was finally being trusted around the ball.

Then he was out again.

Whether that was form, selection or simply the changing midfield mix, it’s another example of a player who appeared to be building continuity before the magnets moved.

Jye Caldwell is another one. We know exactly what he brings when fit, but after returning from injury he attended just 30% of centre bounces. That’s understandable while he builds fitness, but it adds another player who’ll demand midfield minutes over the coming weeks.

And then there’s Darcy Parish.

With his return where does that fit - more squeeze for Sharp? I don’t love that.

On paper, having five or six genuine midfielders should be a luxury. Fresh legs, different strengths and the ability to adapt to different opponents all sound great.

But watching Essendon over the past month, I just can’t get a read on what our preferred midfield actually is.

Is Setterfield a full-time inside midfielder or a rotation?

Is Sharp being developed or just getting a taste?

Is Tsatas part of the future midfield or fighting for scraps?

Is Caldwell simply building back to full fitness, or has his role changed?

Every week it feels like another piece of the puzzle moves.

Maybe injuries have forced some of these changes. Maybe the coaches are still trying to work out their best mix. But at some point, the experimenting has to stop and the chemistry has to start.

The best midfields in the competition don’t just have talent. They have continuity. Players know each other’s games, trust each other’s movements and build combinations that only come from playing together week after week.

Right now, I know we’ve got midfield talent.

I’m just not sure we’ve settled on our midfield.

Who are your four starting midfielders when everyone is fit?

Bomber fans - teams are in.

The Bombers have swung the axe at selection, with Hussien El Achkar, Harry Jones and Lachie Blakiston all omitted for Sundays clash.

Peter Wright returns to give Essendon a genuine key forward target and ruck change, while Nik Cox and Saad El-Hawli have also earned recalls.

Do you like the changes, or would you have backed the younger brigade in for another week?

Bomber fans - Neale is coming to talk to us..

Thoughts on this one?

For me;

Pros

Absolute champion, fit, has tasted success. We have cash and it’s a swap for Merrett’s experience.

Cons

Takes kids midfield time away.

What’s your thoughts Bomber fans?