The preseason has been nothing but praise for the both of them.
Wandered out there today, as I am unlikely to see much football this year. My impressions that they were scratchy given really good conditions. No need to panic just yet though. Looks like a bit of ball touch to come in the next month. Think the regulars covered all the necessary points.
A few things I noticed, not having seen at all in long time.
Shiel off the half-back looks a lock for me. He was impressive today, and as a few noted, ran off half-back, and was an excellent link player, which we need badly.
Draper looks the fittest I have seen him. Bryan also looks like he has knuckled down in the gym somewhat, as when he took shirt off to switch sides, I thought that is not a bean pole anymore. I expect he will partner Draper this year, and Goldy purely a backup, which i think was likely the plan before pre-season started. They always switched forward, which i reckon means Wright is gunna have to fight very hard for his spot. Langford is the lock for the forwards, the rest, we will see how we go.
Tsatas is a starting mid fielder this year without a doubt. Very impressed with his hands in clearances. No idea if all mid fielders are fit how they are going to work out the combination.
As other mentioned, I damn well hope Reid stays fit. He basically is Lav’s replacement now. Probably not as physical. Quite lean still, but he spoils well. (tall bugger isn’t he), and his kicking is sublime, which we can’t say the same about Lav.
First i have seen of Kako. Made a few mistakes, but if he did fumble, he was back on the ball in 1/2 a second. Great energy, and is going to be an excellent crumbing forward.
Of the rehab guys, Jordan was running just half pace, but doesn’t look encumbered very much. I reckon it must be on the minor end. He’s fit. Just get him cherry ripe for round 1. Parish is a mystery. Ran well, good pace. No idea. Managed pre-season? Mackay looks like he is building up nicely as well. Same boat as Ridley. Aim him for round one. Likely not the practise games. Maybe last one for a half or something. Cox though looks long way off. Very slow running. Not much of a pre-season at all. he will be very underdone. No chance at round 1 for him. He is only one though in my opinion.
For the match sim itself, the top players were still the cream. think the others covered it quite well. Just say we need Duursma off the wing. He is one of the link players.
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But Carrot Salad would be telling everyone how wonderful everything was with Essendon and that we are going to sign all the good players and win the world. Don’t panic and stay positive people!!
Long 3hr+ session today in hot conditions. Generally, I think we’re running out training well - the overall fitness of the group seems in good shape, even with several senior players missing the full match sim.
Was a very one-sided affair early on before some players switched teams - to my eye, the pressure from both sides was good today. Red team (possibles) didn’t have the class or experience to match the Black team (probables) but I thought their endeavour and repeated efforts to apply pressure was good.
Skills were a mixed bag and got better as the session went on.
Speaking of skills and connection, I think it’s worth reiterating just how many new players we have out there (including VFL top ups), along with the amount of players missing from match sim today - Durham, Ridley, Parish, Jones, Guelfi, Laverde, Cox, ADW, Davey, Johnson & Nguyen is a quarter of the list, with Caldwell participating but on managed minutes as he re-integrates back in to full training.
Others have done a brilliant job covering the session today but a few thoughts on players:
Draper & Bryan - dominated today, kicking 7 goals between them (especially great seeing Bryan get dangerous forward) and both are running really well.
Martin - Was everywhere, no idea what position he was playing but he’s having a great pre-season and I love seeing him more involved further up the ground.
Shiel - Continues his impressive form off half back giving us some real run and carry. Kicked 2 lovely long goals for the day & gives us some class at ground-level in the backline. Looks like he’s really leant into the new role, we’ll see how he goes once the real stuff starts but he stood out again today.
Tsatas - Hope ya like clearances. The real test will of course come against actual opposition but his kicking is miles ahead of where it was last year. Looks confident and once again had slick hands in the contest, would’ve had a few goal assists as well on the day.
McGrath - Dynamic off half back, some great runs and has that ability to change the angles and open up the play. Defensively sound as always.
Kako - Kicking was a bit scrappy today but his side-step and evasion really stand out, along with his pressure. He and Gresham look to have a good thing going as our small fwd pair.
2MP - looked a helluva lot better when he switched to the Black team, he wasn’t getting many looks up until that point. Didn’t have a huge impact overall but I didn’t see him drop any sitters and he can certainly still nail a set shot, kicked 2 from long range that I saw.
Lual - Low-key one of the bigger improvers over the off-season IMO. I’d say he’s still a way off senior selection but he’s far more involved in match play and had his share of good moments again today off a wing. Interesting to see how he goes this year.
Clarke - He’s a skinny first year player who makes some mistakes but he’s a real goer and I love his confidence to take the space in front of him. Defensively also looks to be doing the right things. Nickname is ‘pup’ (Reddog 2.0).
Gerreyn - Did some defending today and looks to have trimmed some of the puppy fat from when he first arrived. He doesn’t get much of it yet but I like that he’s confident on either foot and looks like a neat set shot.
Merrett was classy and creative as always, Duursma was physical and running hard both ways, Reid had some lovely kicks out of defence.
Emphasis is still on quicker and more aggressive ball-movement - looks better coming out of defence than it does going i50, which still needs work.
Some clips:
Hoare was pretty scrappy for the most part but took a couple of nice marks late - this one ended up setting up a Gresh goal:
Turnover which ends in a Red team mark to Gerreyn:
…who dobs it:
Shiel involved a couple of times in this play, eventually Duursma finds 2MP (who flushes it):
Kako turnover, Gerreyn hits Unwin (who misses) on the left:
Caddy drops a sitter, Tsatas clean take to find 2MP:
Coridoor movement - Draper clunk 2 Tsatas 2 Menzie:
Martin not slippery enough for Baldwin - O’Neill (VFL skipper) with the nice finish:
Good pressure from both sides leading to a Kako mark:
Saad off HB, Shiel with his only real glaring error for the day, Hayes hunts Gresh with his best ‘I believe that’s Mr. Gilmore’s jacket’ chase:
Shiel kicks his 2nd from HB:
Perkins cracking in with the 2nd efforts:
Turnovers lead to a nice finish from Setterfield:
2MP could’ve been a bit more selfish today IMO, kicked a couple and tried to pass off a few more when he was within range:
Martin with the intercept, gets it back from Tsatas, nice delivery to Gresh:
Both teams well setup defensively in this play - Menzie with the intercept, Sellers drops a lovely pass from Clarke, Caldwell comes in with the tackle:
Measured ball use from the Red team, Vigo with the HTB tackle on Clarke:
Unwin involved a couple of times until he’s pinged by Duursma:
Nice bodywork by Lual on Perkins, 2MP finds Menzie who drops what he should’ve taken:
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Fantastic reports everyone. The video excerpts are first class too!
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I know and only hope it continues fingers X.
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It’s Nickers!!!
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Question to trackwatchers:
Are we likely to bypass the SSP to allow us a certain pick in the mid year Draft?
I wish the club would be upfront with the fans though… They issued an injury update last week and weren’t transparent (to me at least).
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Really no idea tbh. Agree with the others that Hoare/Baldwin haven’t really demanded a spot.
Edwards was training today as well, showed some good timing leading up at the footy but I didn’t notice him much and he missed a couple of shots you’d expect to be kicked (likely just nerves given it’s his first match sim).
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Most the whinging I read are you blokes who want it all Pollyanna preseason as usual
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brilliant videos thanks so much. hayes chase down was so impressive, he can really move for a big fella.
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Shiel’s kicking has historically absolutely been as bad as people have made out.
The small sample of games he played last year he was surprisingly effective by foot though. Maybe he spent a good chunk of time with Rath while in rehab?
Hopefully that is the new norm, cos his speed could be useful off hb if he hits targets consistently. Given the criticism Martin copped off hb last year, I fear we may be setting him up for failure.
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I’ve been as anti Sheil as anyone. But he really has felt a level above most on the list and a clear standout.
As much as you need to blood youth. You need to show them what hard work and the standard is, and that it will be rewarded.
This one isn’t just sticking with the same olds regardless of form (for once).
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We have consistently picked him for the last 2 years when he has been healthy, and he has shown he is no longer an asset to the senior team.
I 100% get picking those that train hard, but there surely comes a point where the track bullies who turn to water in the seniors stop getting rewarded with games.
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The lack of competitiveness at training is not good. We should be putting the guys wanting to be in the side in black against the best players. Best forwards on best backs, giving our HF and HB different looks on size and running capacity to make them have to compete.
If the score start going one way too far, swap the players performing to the poor side.
But 57-3 is circle work and a waste of training time.
Except for this year when he played 9 vfl games?
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Essendon track watch: Elijah Tsatas pushing for Opening Round spot
The Bombers took to the track on Saturday for some match simulation, revealing plenty of hints as to how they might shape up for Opening Round against the Suns. More here.
Former high-end draft pick Elijah Tsatas is staking his claim for a spot in Essendon’s senior midfield rotation five weeks out from the Opening Round clash with Gold Coast.
It came as a handful of young Bombers including second-year forward Nate Caddy – who looks more powerful and composed – and exciting draftee Isaac Kako as well as a few veterans impressed in a gruelling match simulation on Saturday.
Tsatas, 20, has struggled to make an impact in his two seasons at The Hangar, due to a handful of injuries, inconsistent form and some question marks over his disposal efficiency.
He had managed only 11 games, including seven last season, after being taken as pick five of the 2022 draft.
But the young inside-mid looks fitter, stronger and, importantly, cleaner with the ball in his hands after a near flawless pre-season.
He was one of the standout performers in the almost three-hour session in hot conditions on Saturday, gaining the first clearance which led to a Dylan Shiel goal inside the first 30 seconds.
Tsatas was chosen as part of the stronger A side from the outset and worked tirelessly in the midfield alongside the likes of skipper Zach Merrett and co.
He looks to have put in a power of work on his body and with his use of the ball – something which was needed to do – in a display that would have pleased Bombers fans in attendance.
Exciting small forward Kako was on the board with an early goal and brought the sort of forward pressure that would have delighted coach Brad Scott.
He is still learning some of the forward set-ups but looks a lock for that early debut, given he brings precisely what the Bombers need.
Key forward Caddy looks set to follow on from his solid first season with two goals, including one that came from a strong contested mark in the goal square.
RUCK ‘N ROLE
Essendon looks set to run with a two-pronged ruck attack this season, which would allow Sam Draper to spend some more time forward.
Draper and Nick Bryan started on the same side opposed to Todd Goldstein, before switching teams later in the game.
They combined well early, switching roles from the ruck to attack, and at one stage they shared four consecutive goals.
Draper, 26, is about to enter the final year of his current deal with the Bombers and seems fired up and ready to perform.
He kicked three goals for the game, mixing his time between the two roles, while Bryan is looking more and more comfortable in his role within the team, kicking two goals himself.
Bryan, 23, has only played 19 games, and has never played more than eight in one season, but looks set to play a bigger role in 2025.
ON THE SIDELINES
Essendon is confident a handful of players who sat out Saturday’s match simulation – including key defender Ben McKay and midfielders Sam Durham and Darcy Parish – will be right to go in the rundown to the pre-season games.
The Bombers’ trio, as well as Jayden Laverde, Nik Cox and Jordan Ridley, had varying running sessions before and during the match simulation.
McKay has been increasing his training load after a small ankle cleanout just before Christmas, while Ridley won’t play in the club’s first practice match against the Western Bulldogs after a minor hamstring strain.
SPRINGBOARD SHIEL
It took under 30 seconds of the four-quarter match simulation to show Shiel’s pre-season move to half back could be a significant boost for the veteran and his club.
Almost from the first bounce, Shiel launched himself off half back through the midfield to receive the ball from Tsatas and slam home a 55m long bomb goal which brought a rousing reception from his teammates.
Shiel has been trialled in defence across the summer and on early indications he seems to be thriving in his switch.
The 31-year-old kicked a second goal later in the game when he was able to get away from his opponent and kick another goal from a distance.
Finding the right spot for Shiel had been a big talking point for the Bombers. But his run and his prodigious left foot seem well suited to seeing him become a springboard player from defence.
He’s had a wretched run with injuries in the past two years – playing just 21 games across 2023 and 2024 – but if his body can remain sound, he could add some more strings to his bow.
WELCOME BACK WINDERS
Popular former Bomber Jason Winderlich made a surprise return to The Hangar on Saturday morning, six months after he broke his neck in two places and sustained spinal damage in a regional football match.
Winderlich is making good progress in his recovery and back on his feet as he reconnected with familiar faces including former teammate Jayden Laverde as well as current coaches Brent Stanton, Michael Hurley and Ricky Dyson, who played in the red and black with him.
The 40-year-old toured the club’s facilities early on Saturday with his wife and kids as part of the Bombers’ past players association.
Winderlich feared the worst when he couldn’t move his body after the collision when playing for Thorpdale in August.
But thankfully he has had great support from those around him and he was walking around talking to some of the injured Bombers on Saturday.
Winderlich played 129 games with Essendon from 2003 to 2015.
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Nothing but positive reports from training watchers and now Hearld Sun about Sheil playing at HB.
Could be a genius move or it could backfire maybe fans should hold back and assess at the end of the season if it was a good move or not
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