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Optimism and high expectations are so often set by pundits for the equal-most successful club in V/AFL history, but as is well-documented, that success had eluded them in the form of finals since 2004.
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So, why will 2025 be any different?
Put simply, it’s Essendon’s fresher faces that is most likely to take them to the ‘Promised Land’. The insertion of Isaac Kako via the draft and a second pre-season under the belt of Nate Caddy are naturally the face of said hope, but a lot of their budding Bomber teammates have been around for long enough to take the lead from loyal stalwarts such as Zach Merrett, Darcy Parish and Andrew McGrath.
The aforementioned trio have entered their prime years, and still have so much football ahead of them. All things being equal, it should hold their three-year plan after a ‘reset’ in strong stead — and the club’s decision to elongate the contract of Brad Scott highlights their belief that their “stability and alignment” is as best as it can be. And as star defender Jordan Ridley told foxfooty.com.au in February, continuity is key, so if his signing helps settle the club further, it obviously can only be a good thing.
“Continuity is such an important thing in the AFL … (for us) It’s just building on what we’ve been doing over the last couple years. We’ve shown in patches that it works, but the challenge now is doing that on a consistent basis, on the biggest stage, against the best teams,” Ridley said.
Scott’s extension, which now takes him through until the end of 2027 at the Hangar, has initially been met with intrigue by pundits. Scott’s coaching credentials aren’t at question, but more so whether his list will be able to bring …
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