The Don The Stat Patreon community takes centre stage in our annual Mid-Season Q&A Special!

With Essendon sitting at a crossroads in 2026, Ian Hume and Jonathan Walsh tackle a huge range of supporter questions covering the biggest issues facing the club.

🔴 Is there anything positive to take from the season so far?
⚫ Who should coach Essendon in 2027 – James Hird, James Kelly or John Longmire?
🔴 Can fans trust the club to make the right decision this time?
⚫ What should Essendon's list strategy be over the next two years?
🔴 Which experienced players should the Bombers target through free agency?
⚫ Who has actually improved this season?
🔴 What's the ideal midfield mix moving forward?
⚫ What does the future hold for Elijah Tsatas?
🔴 Should Essendon take Harry Van Hattum or Akay Barker at the top of the draft?

Plus plenty more discussion on the rebuild, player development, culture, leadership, draft strategy and where the Bombers go from here.

A huge thank you to all our Patreon members who submitted questions and joined us live for another fantastic Q&A session.

#DonTheStat #EssendonFC #AFL

____

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Is Essendon still on the right path, or has the club blinked at a critical moment in its rebuild?

This week on Don The Stat, Ian is joined by Tommy Wolfe from Reading The Play (https://readingtheplay.wordpress.com/) for a deep dive into the Bombers' future following the shock departure of Brad Scott.

Tommy discusses why he believes Essendon is still two strong drafts away from completing its talent base, where the Bombers sit compared to successful rebuilds such as Melbourne and Fremantle, and whether it's possible to sack a coach without abandoning a long-term vision.

The conversation also explores:

🔴 Was Brad Scott the right coach at the wrong time?
⚫ How many more years should Essendon prioritise the draft?
🔴 The risks and rewards of chasing quick improvement through trades and free agency
⚫ Why some rebuilds succeed while others become stuck in AFL's middle ground
🔴 The growing momentum behind James Hird's coaching candidacy
⚫ Essendon's dream 2026 draft and trade period
🔴 The impact of Tasmania's arrival on list management
⚫ What Tommy would change about AFL drafting, free agency and list rules

Plus, Tommy shares his journey with Reading The Play, his favourite Essendon memories, and why he believes the Bombers must avoid repeating the mistakes of "old Essendon."

If you're interested in list building, recruiting, AFL strategy, and where Essendon's rebuild goes from here, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

🎙️ Listen now and join the conversation.

___

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Essendon heads to the MCG to face a Melbourne side that has transformed into one of the competition's most dangerous teams since the Bombers upset them during Gather Round.

With Jono away in England, Ian is joined by long-time Don The Stat patron and tactical analyst Josh Wilson to break down Essendon's loss to Carlton, assess the early signs of the Dean Solomon era, and preview a massive challenge against the Demons.

🔴 Topics include:

• What Essendon did right at centre bounce against Carlton
• Why the Bombers continue to struggle with inside 50 connection
• Ben McKay's surprising impact as a forward
• Zach Merrett's move to half-back and whether it works
• The emergence of Nick Bryan and Sullivan Robey
• What's changed under Dean Solomon?
• Injury updates and the cavalry arriving after the bye
• Melbourne's rise into the top five
• Nick Bryan's biggest test yet against Max Gawn
• How Essendon can repeat the formula that worked in Gather Round
• Key match-ups and tactical battles to watch

Plus, Ian and Josh discuss the future direction of the club, the continued development of Essendon's young core, and what success should look like for the remainder of the 2026 season.

📊 Don't forget to check out this week's Draft Rankings special with Rick Edwards and keep an eye out for Sunday's coaching and club direction discussion with Tommy Wolfe from Reading The Play.

🎙️ Like, subscribe and join the conversation.

#AFL #EssendonFC #DonTheStat

_____

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With Essendon's 2026 season spiralling and the AFL Draft becoming the major source of optimism for Bombers fans, we welcome back one of the most respected talent watchers in the Essendon community — Rick Edwards.

In this special Don The Stat episode, Rick reveals his exclusive Mid-Season Top 20 AFL Draft Rankings and breaks down the players every Essendon supporter should be watching ahead of the National Championships.

We discuss:

🏆 The state of Essendon's season and whether Brad Scott's sacking was the right call

🏆 James Hird's coaching prospects and what the Bombers should prioritise in their rebuild

🏆 Why Harry Van Hattum is currently Rick's No.1 prospect

🏆 Arki Butler, Ethan Drever, Kodah Edwards, Harvie Cook and the other elite talents climbing draft boards

🏆 Who Essendon could target with multiple early selections

🏆 The latest on NGA prospects Justice, Bewick, Jed Naim, Darwish and Rodan

🏆 Rick's experience watching the Vic Metro vs Vic Country trial match

🏆 The players who could rise rapidly during the National Championships

If you're already looking ahead to the future of the Essendon Football Club, this is the draft episode you've been waiting for.

Don't forget to check out Rick's Patreon for exclusive training reports, vision and draft analysis, and follow him on X at @BomberRicko.

🔴⚫ #GoDons

____

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Essendon and Carlton. The ladder might say one thing, but this rivalry always means something.

This week on Don The Stat, Jono and Humey review Dean Solomon's first game as interim coach following the Bombers' disappointing loss to West Coast and examine what, if anything, changed on-field.

The boys dive into:

• The clearance dominance that failed to translate into scoreboard pressure
• Nick Bryan's emergence as a genuine AFL ruckman
• The departures of Ben Jacobs and Ben Robbins
• Another brutal injury update involving Archie May and Lewis Hayes
• Essendon's request for AFL assistance and what support could look like
• Whether key defence has suddenly become a list priority
• Carlton's resurgence under Josh Fraser
• The Blues' dangerous centre bounce game and how Essendon can combat it
• Selection dilemmas ahead of a huge Sunday night clash at the MCG

Plus, the Damian Barrett Lifetime Achievement Award returns and an obscure stat about identical twins rucking against each other.

All that and plenty more in another big edition of Don The Stat.

Go Dons. 🔴⚫️🏉

____

Watch 'The Moment that Mattered' and listen to our Post Match First Thoughts exclusively on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/donthestat

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It has been one of the biggest weeks in recent Essendon history.

After another injury-hit loss, this time to Richmond in Dreamtime at the ‘G, the Bombers sit 1-10 and anchored to the bottom of the AFL ladder. The fallout only intensified with the sacking of Brad Scott, another wave of media scrutiny, and Dean Solomon stepping in as interim coach.

On this week’s Don The Stat Match Preview, Jono and Ian reflect on an emotional and draining week for the Essendon community, the deeper meaning behind supporting the club, and what comes next for the Bombers.

The boys break down:

• The decision to move on from Brad Scott
• Whether Essendon’s long-term strategy can survive another coaching change
• The resilience shown in the Richmond loss despite more injuries
• Darcy Parish’s enormous Dreamtime performance
• Kane Cornes earning a Barrett Award nomination
• Mid-season draftee Jaxon Artemis and what he adds to the list
• West Coast’s improvement in 2026 and the challenge awaiting in Perth
• The tactical and structural changes fans want to see under Dean Solomon

There’s also discussion around Essendon’s youth movement, list build, clearance struggles, Harley Reid, Bailey Williams, Jake Waterman and how the Bombers can respond after one of the toughest weeks the club has faced in years.

A reflective, emotional and analytical episode from the Don The Stat team.

_____

Watch 'The Moment that Mattered' and listen to our Post Match First Thoughts exclusively on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/donthestat

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This was recorded on Patreon live earlier this evening. Ian gives his reaction to Brad Scott's sacking and interacts with Patrons.

Jono will give his thoughts on our main show this Thursday

***Apologies for the audio quality, there were issues with the recording tonight***

Dreamtime at the ‘G returns, but this year it arrives with plenty of pressure surrounding both Essendon and Richmond.

In this episode of Don The Stat, Jono and Humey break down the Bombers’ disappointing loss to Fremantle, including another poor start, contest issues around stoppage, and why the raw stats didn’t fully reflect how one-sided the game felt early. They also discuss the signs of improvement in Essendon’s forward half pressure and whether there was anything worth taking from the second half response.

The boys dive into the latest media storm surrounding Essendon’s list strategy, including Jay Clark’s reporting on Adrian Dodoro, Harley Reid, Craig Vozzo and the club’s rebuild direction. They unpack the context around Essendon’s 2024 position, why the “all in” approach would have been a massive gamble, and how AFL media coverage continues to shape perception around the club.

There’s also discussion around:

• Peter Wright’s injury and what it means for Nick Bryan
• Brayden Fiorini’s season-ending setback
• Essendon’s likely mid-season draft strategy
• Richmond’s rebuild and injury struggles
• Key tactical battles for Dreamtime at the G
• Whether the Bombers can handle the pressure if things go wrong on Friday night

Plus the latest Damian Barrett Award nominee, Patreon shoutouts, and why Dreamtime remains one of the most important nights in football regardless of ladder position.

🎧 All that and more on this week’s episode of Don The Stat. Go Dons

_____

Watch 'The Moment that Mattered' and listen to our Post Match First Thoughts exclusively on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/donthestat

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A 26-point lead. A young side full of energy. Then a game that slipped away.

This week on Don The Stat, Jono and Humey unpack Essendon's frustrating 14-point loss to GWS after looking in control for long stretches. Was it simply a case of experience winning out, or did deeper issues emerge late in the game?

We dive into:

• The Giants comeback and where things unravelled
  • Elite forward-half pressure that wasn't fully rewarded
  • Why ground-level forwards may be becoming a bigger issue
  • Sullivan Robey's Rising Star performance and Dyson Sharp's cruel injury setback
  • Mid-season contract calls: who's safe and who's under pressure?
  • Fremantle's rise into premiership contention and what makes them so dangerous
  • Selection headaches, tactical matchups and whether Setterfield should return

Plus Jono celebrates a birthday live on air... and opens a surprise gift 🎁

Can the Bombers respond against one of the AFL's hottest teams?

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

The episode also covers Essendon's evolving style, key statistical trends and the broader rebuild trajectory around the current young core.

___

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Don The Stat brings up its 100th Match Preview episode as Essendon heads north to face the GWS Giants at ENGIE Stadium.

After a tough 64-point loss to the reigning premiers Brisbane, the boys break down what went wrong, from the alarming centre bounce numbers to Essendon’s inability to contain Brisbane’s uncontested ball movement.

There’s discussion around the development of the Bombers’ young core, the impact of Sam Durham’s return to the midfield, Nate Caddy’s fiery comments, and whether Essendon’s current midfield balance is sustainable.

The episode also dives into:

• The leaked Brisbane whiteboard and the fallout from it
• The media treatment of Ben McKay
• Brad Scott speculation and reaction to recent reporting
• Injury updates including Saad El-Hawli and Brayden Fiorini
• Why GWS has regressed in 2026 despite strong contested numbers
• How Essendon can exploit the Giants at stoppage and territory

Plus, the boys reflect on reaching 100 Match Previews since Don The Stat began in 2022 and what the journey has meant to them and the Essendon community.

Go Dons.

_____

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Article Link - https://www.donthestat.com/post/round-7-check-point-essendon-2026

ANZAC Day heartbreak is in the rear-view mirror, but the challenge only gets tougher for Essendon in Round 8.

After a competitive first half against Collingwood, the Bombers were overrun in brutal fashion, going down by 77 points. Now they return to Marvel Stadium to face the back-to-back premiers Brisbane Lions, one of the AFL’s benchmark sides.

In this episode of Don The Stat, Jono and Humey break down what went wrong against the Pies, the growing importance of centre bounce battles, and why team balance hurt Essendon last week.

They also dive into:

• The criticism surrounding Ben McKay and where fan behaviour crosses the line
• Green shoots from young Bombers including Saad El-Hawli, Nate Caddy and Archer Day-Wicks
• Isaac Kako’s injury setback and the latest selection changes
• Why Elijah Tsatas being omitted raises questions
• Brisbane’s elite clearance game, scoring power and where they can still be exposed
• Key match-ups including Lachie Neale, Charlie Cameron and former Bomber Sam Draper
• What Essendon must do to stay in the fight against the reigning premiers

Plus, Humey shares a special family moment ahead of the match, with son Oscar attending his first Essendon game.

A big test awaits. Can the Bombers respond?

____

Watch 'The Moment that Mattered' and listen to our Post Match First Thoughts exclusively on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/donthestat

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