Round 8 – Essendon v Brisbane: Lions king as Bombers fail to lift off

Round 8
Essendon v Brisbane
Saturday 2 May 2026
Marvel Stadium

 

As an Essendon supporter I’m becoming more thick skinned and devoid of emotion as once again my team suffers another significant loss.

 

I am not expecting to win as the team progress through its rebuild stage but I do  expect the team to have a ‘red-hot go’ for the full game and not in the spasmodic flashes we occasionly witness.

 

My overwhelming observation from our latest loss against Brisbane is that Brisbane is a very good team, in fact a very, very good team and must be on track to win another premiership this year. They are quick, slick, precise and all play with 100% commitment to the team, to each other, and to their game plan. They all know exactly what to do in all play situations the team confronts or is presented with throughout the game. It was also disappointing to watch two ex-Bombers in Sam Draper and Conor McKenna performing so well in the game, especially Draper, so sadly missed.

 

A pre-game discussion travelling to the match was trying to reach a reasonable conclusion as to why Elijah Tsatas was once again dropped from the side after what I thought were 3 solid games. You have to wonder what he has done wrong. I can’t imagine what must be going through his mind and how he must feel fronting up to training and discovering he’s out of favour, and out of the team again. To his credit he racked up possessions in the VFL.

 

It is very easy to be negative when your team is constantly performing poorly in the manner the Bombers have been in recent seasons but I like to seek the positives, and look to the future.

 

Firstly, Sullivan Robey is a ripper! Each week, as he adapts to the tempo of the game and increases his already confident attitude in his ability, we are witnessing the development of a future champion as he morphs into our ‘Dusty Martin’. Dylan Sharp played his best game and in time will develop into a worthy support act for Robey. Nate Caddy kicked 3 goals 5 behinds. It could easily have been 5 or 6 goals except he misses set shots too many times that he should not miss. Working on this aspect of his game will ensure he becomes an even better player than he is at the moment. Archie Roberts once again collected high possesions and displays a maturity and confidence far beyond his years and experience. These are the players that will form the backbone to our future good sides.

 

On a few occasions the Bombers moved the ball well showing the basis is there to play good footy but it only occurred in flashes which is not good enough against good sides like Brisbane. 

 

A second observation, aside from the overall brilliance of the Brisbane team, is Harris Andrews. What a great reader of the play! Cool, calm, and collected down back he marked everything that came his way then directed his army onwards and upwards as all good leaders do. Wouldn’t we love him at Essendon!

 

To pick the best players for the match is difficult with such a rampaging Brisbane but Harris Andrews stood out for me, I’d have to give votes to one of their goal kickers so Bailey gets the nod there, and Peter Wright was a shining light in Essendon’s defeat.

 

Footy Almanac Votes

3. Harris Andrews (Bris)

2. Zac Bailey (Bris)

1. Peter Wright (Ess)

 

 

ESSENDON      1.3      4.8       5.11     11.13 (79)
BRISBANE       6.2      10.5     17.8      22.11 (143)

 

GOALS
Essendon: Caddy 3, Wright 2, Blakiston, Edwards, Merrett, Robey, Langford, Cox
Brisbane: Bailey 4, Morris 4, Lohmann 4, Rayner 2, McKenna 2, Cameron 2, Neale, Wilmot, McCluggage, Reville

 

BEST
Essendon: Wright, Merrett, Caddy, Durham
Brisbane: Bailey, Wilmot, W.Ashcroft, Zorko, McCluggage, Andrews

 

INJURIES
Essendon: Caldwell (ankle), El-Hawli (collarbone)
Brisbane: Gallop (concussion)

 

Crowd: 31,595 at Marvel Stadium

 

More from Col Ritchie can be read Here

 

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