January 30th
- thebombersblog
- 3 hours ago
- 6 min read
Ramping up now.
Exactly six weeks out from Essendon’s Round 1 clash with Hawthorn, today’s two-hour training and match simulation offered another clear snapshot of the ideas and method being embedded for 2026, with a little more experimentation layered into the session. Here’s my take on what unfolded.
Who’s there.
Will Setterfield, Archie Perkins, Nick Bryan and Tom Edwards completed the pre–match simulation warm-up, running and kicking with the main group before stepping aside once the session moved into groundball and tackling drills.
📸 Photo by The Caddy Shack @CharlieDons on X
Used with permission
Jordan Ridley’s odometer continued to tick over, running lap after lap of the main oval at a genuine tempo. Once match simulation began, he joined the above group on the second oval to continue building his endurance base for the season ahead.
Sullivan Robey started the session in the fluorescent runners along the boundary before later switching into even brighter boots alongside Category B rookie Cillian Bourke, who noticeably lifted his pace this week after a far more leisurely jog last Friday.
📸 Photo by The Caddy Shack @CharlieDons on X
Used with permission
Harrison Jones remained on the boundary in runners, observing the session, while Kyle Langford, who made no appearance last week, took part in every minute this time around.
Who’s where, here, there and everywhere.
There were several changes to the head-to-head matchups this week. Some were minor, some looked better suited based on preseason form, and one in particular stood out as a more significant adjustment.
The bookend talls were again Nate Caddy and Peter Wright matched against Zach Reid and Ben McKay. After a bitterly disappointing showing from the key backs last week, both defenders lifted noticeably across most areas.
Reid’s long reach stood out against Caddy, helped by sticking much tighter to his bleach-blond opponent on the lead, both closer to goal and up the ground.
Caddy still had the ascendancy with the spilled ball, using his step and quick reactions, including one instance of selling candy to two defenders before finishing truly.
McKay, far too aggressive against both Wright and Caddy last week, got back to basics this time around.
📸 Photo by The Caddy Shack @CharlieDons on X
Used with permission
With the high ball coming in, he was able to hold his own in the wrestle and get the 2021 Crichton Medallist out of position, but Wright’s stellar preseason form still showed when he was able to get his hands out in front, making it count with sticky fingers.
To back it up, Wright’s accuracy was on song, whether directly in front or from closer to the boundary.
Up the other end, Kayle Gerreyn had the better of McMahon overall, though even with limited opportunities, the ex-Carlton VFL recruit was able to kick truly when needed.
Archer May has quietly went about his business over the past three months, but today he stood out one-on-one, proving far too good for VFL-listed Tyler Sellers and deadly in front of goal, especially from the boundary. When he couldn’t mark it, he kept his feet, following up on the spilled ball and throwing his weight around to support lighter teammates.
Today’s performance was a clear example that, given enough opportunities at the lower level, he’s capable of demanding senior teammates perform — and can step up when needed.
📸 Photo by The Caddy Shack @CharlieDons on X
Used with permission
Among the smalls, Archer Day-Wicks’ consistent preseason continued.
His front-and-centre work at ground level caused Jayden Nguyen early and Zak Johnson later genuine headaches, finishing with more impact than Matt Guelfi and Rhys Unwin in similar roles.
📸 Photo by The Caddy Shack @CharlieDons on X
Used with permission
Once again, Hussein El Achkar and Isaac Kako were paired inside 50.
El Achkar showed his threat close to goal, either finding pockets of space off turnover or getting boot to ball instantly when he had to.
After putting both Archie Roberts and Mason Redman to the sword across the last two match simulations, Kako finally had a matchup that tested almost every part of his game — ball winning, decision making, and defending — with newly appointed captain Andrew McGrath tasked with keeping him honest.
While he still managed moments off turnover, catching McGrath out of position, he wasn’t able to influence much beyond that, with McGrath making him pay on the rebound several times.
The wing matchups remained the same as last week, with Jaxon Prior’s starting position becoming clearer with each session. He and Nik Cox went head-to-head on one side, while VFL recruit Jaxon Binns had his hands full on the other with Brayden Fiorini.
The ex-Sun’s contest traits were evident throughout, quickly closing space around any opponent with the football and sticking his tackles. But it was his run, work rate, and smart positioning that stood out most, sneaking forward to become an unmissable target for teammates and creating two shots on goal for himself.
Jacob Farrow impressed at times as a midfielder two weeks ago, particularly when the game was in motion.
Last week, however, Darcy Parish and Sam Durham were able to dictate positioning against him, turning first possession into clearances, with Parish’s spread proving too damaging for the 18-year-old once the ball got out.
This week, starting as a mid-sized defender, Farrow was able to showcase his best attributes.
Given time and space, the West Australian quickly assessed which way to attack with the ball, justifying his decisions with execution.
After two weeks of education against experienced midfielders with mature bodies, this role appears better suited to him for now.
📸 Photo by The Caddy Shack @CharlieDons on X
Used with permission
Nobody stood out as much as Parish last week, reminding everyone that full fitness and continuity underpin everything.
This time, Elijah Tsatas had the edge pre-clearance.
His ability to extract the ball and feed teammates was a clear feature, even as Parish, Durham, Jye Caldwell, and Zach Merrett rotated through him at centre bounce, with his influence in this area directly setting up two goals from clearance.
📸 Photo by The Caddy Shack @CharlieDons on X
Used with permission
Quote taken from my preview of Geelong vs Essendon August 6th 2025
I know what the immediate pushback will be: “But Merrett is Essendon’s best midfielder, he needs to be on-ball.”
Fair, but it’s also time for others to get exposure in there. The first one I want to see is Archie Roberts.
The 20-year-old ranks fourth at the club for groundball wins among those available this week, and second to Andrew McGrath for groundballs won post clearance. Almost 20% of his possessions are won this way, proof of a natural appetite for the contest.
It’s a big ask to match up on someone like Tom Atkins, Geelong’s number one for contested ball and hardball gets, but for a player Matthew Lloyd has touted as having similar traits to Geelong great Joel Selwood, I think he’s the type who would look forward to the challenge.
First area I scanned for starting positions this week was onball, and the first thing that jumped out was Archie Roberts.
📸 Photo by The Caddy Shack @CharlieDons on X
Used with permission
He made an immediate statement against Parish at the opening bounce, with early push-and-shove enough to momentarily unsettle the 2021 All-Australian.
Roberts’ ability to stand up when contesting or winning the ball at times drew two or three opponents to him, opening space for teammates on the outside.
His physicality from defensive positioning pushed Merrett too close to the drop of the ball at stoppage, while Caldwell had a much harder job shaking off his tackle pressure to free his arms.
His outside game also stood up, pushing hard forward once the ball left his area and punishing Merrett’s attitude to not follow him by putting it on the scoreboard for a goal.
He doesn’t yet have the tank to be a regular midfielder, and when Kako entered the centre square in a pseudo last-quarter, Roberts was exposed for turn of foot.
Still, as the game and season progress, having another hardball winner who can rotate on after the first and second wave will be invaluable.
Final words.
This match simulation was the most intense contact-wise, with numerous players coming off second-best as “the heat” was turned up repeatedly through tackling around congestion.
Once the ball was out, the intent to move it forward with urgency and run through El Hawli, Nguyen, Kondogiannis, Johnson, McGrath, and Redman was clear, challenging the opposition’s high press to generate front-half turnovers; otherwise, there was plenty of grass for players to use their leg speed and creativity.
*Once again, big shout-out, appreciation, and credit to Charlie (Caddy Shack @CharlieDons on X) for his photos.
For more pics from today and past training, Charlie can be found on X here:
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