Essendon’s head coach, Brad Scott, has confidently announced that the club’s “hard work is complete” regarding their player roster overhaul.
The Bombers are currently facing some serious challenges, having not secured a victory since May 2025.
Scott is feeling the heat, particularly after the team has endured heavy defeats against Hawthorn and Port Adelaide, followed by a setback against North Melbourne.
Essendon coach Brad Scott at training. Getty
Despite the current woes, he maintains that the club has assembled the roster needed to elevate the team back up the ranks.
“There are all sorts of labels you can attach, but when you’ve overhauled your list with 39 player changes in three years, I believe the hard work is complete,” Scott expressed to journalists.
“We made strategic choices to defer some draft picks to create better opportunities in future drafts.
“Looking back over the last three years, we’ve executed that plan. It’s not a matter of completely revamping the roster; that process started three years ago.”
Essendon added three first-round draft picks in 2025 as part of their roster transformation, and brought in four new faces during the mid-season draft in 2024 to combat a series of long-term injuries.
However, their success at the draft in the 2020s has been less than stellar, something that club great Matthew Lloyd believes is contributing to their ongoing struggles.
Zach Merrett of the Bombers looks upset after a loss to the Hawks. Getty
“They are desperately needing … I took notes on what Isaac Heeney has achieved at Sydney and what Kozzie Pickett brings to Melbourne … the club is in dire need of someone to step up in the midfield,” Lloyd said on Nine’s Footy Classified on Monday.
“Since drafting Zach Merrett, the team hasn’t seen any quality in that area.
“They have Sam Durham and Jye Caldwell, but they still have a way to go; neither are A-grade talents. They have missed on some opportunities at the draft. Elijah Tsatas is currently playing VFL. Nate Caddy has been a positive, though.
“Out of Dyson Sharp, Jacob Farrow, and Sullivan Robey, it’s quite a bit of pressure on those young players, but the club needs contributions.”
If the Bombers have been the most challenged team so far in 2026, on the opposite end of the spectrum are the Western Bulldogs.
They have triumphed over the Lions in Queensland, the Crows in Adelaide, and have convincingly beaten GWS at the start of the season.
Now, they are heavily favoured against Essendon in Sunday night’s matchup.
Essendon coach Brad Scott. AFL Photos via Getty Images
Nonetheless, Scott has no intention of holding back or simply trying to limit the damage against the formidable Bulldogs.
“I’ve never been one to play it safe or focus on simply minimising the margin,” he stated.
“We will be proactive and take the fight to them. It’s similar to throwing the first punch in boxing.
“We can control our intensity in contests and how we apply pressure.
“Those will be our main focuses: maintaining pressure in contests, winning the ball, being aggressive when we don’t have possession, and executing our plays.”
Regrettably for Essendon, young prospect Nate Caddy will be sidelined for the match after sustaining a delayed concussion during the loss to the Roos.
Should they take the field on Sunday night, it will mark 317 days since the Bombers last tasted victory.
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