Listening to Scott I’m not sure he’s found space for Kako and Huss in the one side yet.
Might be about Kako’s fitness to do some mid rotations?
Oh you’re not wrong, of course Jones, Gresham and Prior will play. All are 3 are most likely to be cut at the end of the season but that’s brads way. Maybe Prior survives
Man I love Bradley
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Maybe too much sauce.
Your not playing may, langford, caddy & wright, too slow. Even when 2MP rucks, langford & caddy forward is fine. The game is all about smaller/medium forwards these days
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i agree shouldnt have too many talls but caddy is as fast and explosive as anyone on the list.
Alwyn Jr would love to have a chat..
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He was so ■■■■ even for Brad to play.
Sam Weideman and Menzie say hello
Poor old Jye hardly got a game until the cupboard was just about empty
Poor bloke, but geez he was awful
Brad will shoehorn him in every week until he meets that contract trigger
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Fox Footy’s predicted side for the planes
ESSENDON
B: A.McGrath, B.McKay, J.Ridley
HB: M.Redman, Z.Reid, A.Roberts
C: X.Duursma, Z.Merrett, B.Fiorini
HF: S.Durham, P.Wright, I.Kako
F: K.Langford, N.Caddy, A.May
FOLL: L.Blakiston, J.Caldwell, D.Parish
I/C: J.Farrow, D.Sharp, M.Guelfi, H.El Achkar, A.Clarke
EMG: J.Gresham, J.Nguyen, E.Tsatas
WE SAY: A very different-looking Bombers line-up to the one that ran out to face the Suns late last year – 11 changes in total. The fresh faces include first-round draftees Dyson Sharp and Jacob Farrow, with the latter impressively settling in a defensive role across the summer. There’s also a chance NGA graduate Hussien El Achkar – a crafty and elusive goalkicker – is a Round 1 bolter. The Bombers, too, would love to unleash fellow 2025 draftee Sullivan Robey, but he’s only just working back from a back issue that flared up just after arriving at the club. Key defender Jordan Ridley is expected to be right for Round 1 after hamstring issues throughout the pre-season, but Archie Perkins is less likely after an off-season dealing with his groin injury. Essendon will also be without versatile star Nic Martin for the entire 2026 season due to a knee injury, while Tom Edwards and Lewis Hayes (both ACL) remain sidelined for now. Nik Cox (concussion/calf) and Will Setterfield (foot) are showing good signs in their respective builds. There’s still some uncertainty around the ruck situation after Sam Draper’s departure and Nick Bryan’s ACL rehab, but Lachie Blakiston has been tipped to get the nod over Vigo Visentini.
Looks a very slow team on paper.
Can’t wait for Farrow and Kondo lasers off half back.
A far cry from Heppell Kelly et al
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Hep and Kelly were reasonably reliable kicks if taking the safe option. Farrow and Kondo have the ability, and hopefully the appetite / licence, to take the attacking option. It will likely lead to more turnovers, but will do wonders for our ball movement. Get it in quickly and let Caddy go to work!
B: A.McGrath, B.McKay, M. Redman
HB: J. Farrow, Z.Reid, A.Roberts
C: X.Duursma, S. Durham, B.Fiorini
HF: Z. Merrett, P.Wright, I.Kako
F: K.Langford, N.Caddy, H.El Achkar
FOLL: L.Blakiston, J.Caldwell, D.Parish
I/C: Z. Johnson, D.Sharp, M Kondogiannis, A Perkins, A.Clarke
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15 definite’s for round 1, leaving 8 spots to fill:
- McGrath - back/mid
- Darce - mid/forward
- Langford - forward/wing
- Caldwell - mid/forward
- Zac - mid/forward
- Fiorini - wing
- Kako (pending fitness) - forward/mid
- Peter - forward/ruck
- Roberts - mid/back
- Durham - mid/forward
- Redman - back
- Duursma - wing/forward
- Caddy - forward
- Reid - back
- McKay - back
- Blakiston - ruck/back
Due to fitness and players returning from injury (like Perkins who shouldn’t be picked), the possibles include:
- Sharp - mid/forward
- May - forward
- Kondogiannis - back
- Clarke - utility
- Nguyen - back
- Prior - back/wing
- Johnson - back/mid
- Hussien- forward
- Farrow - back/mid
- Guelfi (time for youth) - forward
- Visentini - ruck
- Gresham - forward/mid
Can’t wait to see how the team goes against the Saints. Will have a better read at how they’re tracking
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Oh good, another Brad thread.
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B - McGrath, McKay, Roberts
HB - Redman, Reid, Farrow
M - Fiorini, Parish, Prior
HF - Duursma, Wright, Durham
F - Langford, Caddy, Kako
Followers - Blakiston, Caldwell, Merrett
I/C - Nyugen, Sharp, Clarke, Huss, Tsatas
Once a few players get up to speed after interrupted pre seasons, surely we can look forward to Anzac Day where all of Perkins, Gresham, Prior, Jones, Cox, Guelfi, and Setterfield are all brought in at once with Tsatas added as an emergency!
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Having seen a fair bit of preseason and attending the Richmond scratch match, whilst also considering the current injury list / speculation, here’s my round one side to take on the Hawks:
FF: Wright - Langford - Kako
HF: Merrett - Caddy - Duursma
C: Fiorini - Parish - Clarke
R: Caldwell - Blakiston - Durham
HB: Farrow - Reid - McGrath
FB: Nguyen - McKay - Redman
I/C: El-Achkar - Sharp - Roberts - Johnson - Kondogiannis
EMER: Guelfi - Perkins - May - El-Hawli
The forward line looks most balanced with at least three smaller, defensively capable ground level players at all times. Merrett will get midfield minutes, but also provide a similar role to the one he undertook for Victoria in the Origin game. Wright provides ruck chop out from the forward line, and we never look too cumbersome with this mix.
The midfield is solid, with Roberts playing a major role there, alongside the regulars (when fit) and Sharp. Merrett will also role through providing the class around the grunt.
Wings provide size, run and skills. Clarke can go back as a psuedo tall if required, and Johnson/Roberts/Kondogiannis can support from the bench or other roles.
Backline is specifically selected to counter the plethora of small and speedy options in the Hawthorn side. Nguyen locks down, allowing McGrath to get up the ground and involved. Redman plays as the third tall alonside Kondogiannis (who’s speed and agility allow him to play small as required). With Farrow, Reid, Kondogiannis and Johnson, there are footskills to challenge the Hawks set up.
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