Introduction.
This review serves as a companion to my earlier analysis of *The Essendon Midfield of 2024*
where I explored the team’s strategies and execution for 2024.
In this piece, part one of a two part series, the focus shifts to the individuals that form Essendon’s midfield. I'll be examining their strengths, areas that need improvement, and how these factors might influence the team’s overall performance moving forward.
At times, the critique will be harsh, as certain aspects of players' games require significant development. In other cases, it may simply be an acknowledgment that some players have likely reached their peak and may not be able to propel Essendon to the next level.
Merrett.
A true leader in every aspect.
Let's be honest—this review is going to be overwhelmingly positive, with barely 1% of negativity. No Essendon player has reached the same heights as the Captain over the last three seasons, and no one has matched Merrett's consistency over the past four.
Starting with AFL Player Ratings, which measure a player's impact based on how and where they win the ball and how they use it, Merrett finished the year as the 16th highest-rated player in the league. This marks his fourth consecutive year inside the top 20.
While Bontempelli finished the year ranked number one with an average rating of 19.08, Merrett surpassed that rating six times, peaking at 33.7 in Round 17 against Collingwood—his career-best and the third-highest rating in any game this season.
He also made a greater impact on the scoreboard this year, averaging over 1.5 shots per game—the most of any full-time Essendon midfielder—while kicking 14 goals, a career-high. Impressively, more than 25% of his disposals contributed to scoring chains, and his score involvements per time on the ground ranked him 17th in the competition. By comparison, the next best Essendon midfielder, Shiel, ranked 34th.
In terms of defensive efforts, among the top 50 midfielders for disposals, Merrett ranks 15th in tackles and 6th in pressure acts, showcasing his ability to work just as hard without the ball as with it—something his teammates should aspire to match.
Support please.
The only downside to Merrett's season was that no other Essendon midfielder put enough pressure on the opposition to draw a tag, which would have freed up Merrett. As a result, he was often heavily marked in most games, which reduced his overall disposals and, more crucially, his score involvements. His disposal efficiency dropped when tagged, and this trend will likely continue unless Essendon can develop another midfielder who poses a similar threat, forcing opponents to rethink their defensive matchup strategies.
Bring it on.
Assuming he stays fit and healthy, there's no reason to believe Merrett won't maintain the exceptional consistency he's displayed for years. According to my rating system, which focuses on midfield-specific metrics per time on ground, Merrett's performances have seen only minor fluctuations since 2017.
The key to unlocking even greater potential will lie in having a teammate who can consistently win the contested ball in congestion and feed it to Merrett in space. This would not only benefit Merrett but also elevate the overall performance of Essendon's midfield, as I’ll touch on further in this review.
Durham.
Believe.
The most rewarding aspect of the coaches' positional changes was their foresight and confidence in Durham. Their belief in his ability to thrive as a midfielder, based on his dedication and work ethic, proved successful on all fronts.
Credit must go to Durham, who not only embraced the challenge but consistently backed up the coaches' faith with strong performances, especially early in the season.
By the end of my 2024 reviews, you will be tired of hearing about groundball, that’s if you’re not already, but it's a crucial area where Essendon needs improvement, particularly against top teams and in a potential finals campaign.
Early in the season, Durham showed promise in this area while playing as a full-time midfielder. In his first 11 games, he averaged 6.6 groundball gets per game, with standout performances in round six against Adelaide (10 groundballs, ranked 9th in the competition for that round) and round 11 against Richmond (11 groundballs, ranked 5th of all players in all games) At that point in the season, 47% of Durham’s possessions came from contests, the second-best among Essendon midfielders behind Setterfield (who had only played three games). He won 32% of his possessions via groundballs, the highest rate among Essendon’s midfielders.
By season’s end, Durham ranked 11th among midfielders 23 and under for hardball gets per time on ground, alongside names like Tom Green, Rowell, Serong, Young, Ashcroft, and Newcombe.
His breakout game came in round 19 against the Western Bulldogs, where he recorded 21 disposals at 80% efficiency, including 12 contested possessions. Six of those contested possessions came in the final quarter, reflecting his pre-season training and fitness. Perhaps more impressive was his ability to limit Bontempelli, holding him to his lowest Player Rating since the 2021 Grand Final, earning Durham 10 coaches' votes for the game.
Across the season, his numbers showed potential that could lift Essendon into 2025 and beyond. In my ratings, Durham reached a new peak, more than doubling his previous best from 2023.
The long season.
While Durham excelled early in the season with his contested work, his role shifted as the year went on, particularly after Parish returned from injury. Durham's time as a full-time midfielder decreased, reducing his impact in contests.
Before the bye, Durham played 72.4% time on ground, increasing to 78.2% after the bye. However, his centre bounce attendance dropped from 56.9% to 37.4%, meaning he spent less time in the contest and more in the forward half.
Prior to the bye, Essendon held a clearance differential of +7, with a +53 advantage in scores from stoppages. After the bye, this flipped to -29 in clearances and -34 in stoppage points.
When Parish returned for the last five games, Durham’s centre bounce attendance decreased even further, averaging only 34% of Essendon’s centre bounces against St. Kilda. then dropping to 27%, 32%, 22%, and finally 0% in round 24 against Brisbane. During those five games, the team recorded a -50 differential in groundball wins.
A key factor behind Durham's reduced midfield role is the lack of flexibility in some of his teammates. Players like Parish and Hobbs have struggled to rotate between midfield and the forward line while maintaining their impact, which limited Durham's opportunities as the season progressed.
The drive to succeed.
It was always going to be tough for Durham to sustain his early-season form in a full-time midfield role, especially in his first year in the position. However, he seems driven to continually raise his own standards, and I believe he deserves the first opportunity next season to build on this year's work.
If he can establish himself further, he could help unlock the full potential of Essendon's midfield, allowing others to focus on their strengths and have a greater impact.
Duursma.
Got what we expected.
With at least 12 players rotating through the wings this season, Duursma easily stood out as Essendon's best in this role. His experience in this position, which emphasises a selfless, defensively-minded approach, was evident in most games.
Although he seemed a bit fumbly at the start of the season, he quickly made his presence felt both behind and ahead of the ball.
Duursma averaged just under an intercept mark per game, contributing to 3.9 intercept possessions per match—more than 21% of his total possessions. In Round 8 against West Coast, three of his six intercept possessions initiated scoring chains, equal most for the game. In Round 18 against Collingwood, both of his intercept marks were in contested situations, highlighting his defensive aerial ability.
His 81% time on ground this season was also the highest since his debut year, a significant increase from his four-year average of just over 74%.
Not what we wanted.
Despite the improvement in his time on ground, Duursma once again struggled with the demands of playing consistently week-to-week. He managed 15 games this season, following 16 last year, and just 11 and 15 games in the two seasons before that.
Missing the final three games of the season and a five-game stretch mid-year after playing the first eight were major setbacks.
His inability to stay fit and play regularly due to injury forced Essendon to rotate several players through this key wing position, impacting the team’s consistency.
Building.
Looking ahead to next season, I don’t expect Duursma’s role to change significantly, as he has a solid understanding of when to support the defenders and when to push forward into the attacking 50.
Unlike some of his teammates who took on this role, he was careful not to push too deep into the forward 50, which helped him maintain his positioning and be ready to defend if the opposition regained possession.
However, I’d like to see him take more risks by foot, as I believe he has the skillset to execute more aggressive options, especially with changes of direction to open up the field and support Essendon's attacking transitions.
Parish.
Impact.
Though Parish hasn’t consistently hit the same heights in recent years, when fully fit and confident, he still demonstrated his ability to deliver in key moments.
His 2024 season was more about standout individual performances than an overall successful year. A prime example came on Anzac Day in Round 7, where despite playing only 68% time on ground. he collected 25 disposals, with 24% contributing to scoring chains. His five stoppage clearances were crucial in setting up 13 Essendon scoring opportunities from clearances. On that day, Parish was at his most dynamic, utilising his leg speed to carry the ball further before delivering it inside 50, averaging just under 22 metres gained per disposal.
Another reminder of his talent came in Round 21 against Fremantle, where once again, nearly 24% of his disposals contributed to scoring chains, two of which came directly from his contest wins.
A concern.
The biggest downside to Parish’s 2024 campaign was his limited availability, playing just 12 games due to injury. This could be a concerning trend, as he played only 18 of 23 games in 2023 and 16 of 23 in 2022, after a full 23-game season in 2021.
Missing the first two games of the season resulted in a slow start, with his first four games yielding an average of just four score involvements and three clearances from 23 disposals per game. It wasn’t until rounds 7-9 that Parish found form, only to reinjure himself and miss another nine games. When he did return, it took just one game for him to regain his rhythm.
While Parish has averaged over 30 disposals since moving to the midfield in 2021, that figure alone doesn’t define his impact. In previous seasons, over 31% of his disposals contributed to team scores, starting scoring chains 1.8 times per game. This year, however, only 21% of his disposals led to scores, and he initiated just one scoring chain per game.
His usual run and carry was often missing, as he opted to kick more frequently rather than using his speed to gain territory before disposal.
His centre-bounce attendances also dropped, likely a result of spending so much time on the sidelines and then slowly building back “into touch.”
Inevitably, his overall ratings on my metrics dipped in 2024, after maintaining consistency in the previous two seasons, though still a noticeable drop from his dominant 2021.
The real impact.
Heading into 2025, getting Parish back to full fitness is key, but there’s a role for him that requires a slight shift to maximise his impact.
Since moving to the midfield full-time, Parish has averaged 8.22 groundball wins per game, with 2.2 of them being hardball wins. However, this hasn’t been enough against the stronger teams and players in this area, and while it may be harsh, he isn’t the solution to this problem.
As a full-time midfielder, his average of 4.3 tackles per game over the last two seasons, and 3.6 in the two years prior, ranks him 46th among midfielders who played at least six games, after ranking 52nd the year before.
His real strength lies in the loose ball and as a handball receiver, providing an outlet for teammates to move the ball from inside congestion to outside space. This role adjustment wouldn’t drastically change his starting positions at stoppages, but it would allow others to fill the gap and compete more effectively against elite competition. If fully fit, Parish can use his running power to get from contest to contest, carry the ball out of congestion, and increase his impact on the scoreboard even further.
Shiel.
Shing light behind the clouds.
Shiel’s 2024 started slowly—very slowly. However, once he found his stride, there were plenty of positives, which in turn raise intriguing questions for 2025.
He was still recovering from injury at the beginning of the season and didn’t make his first appearance in the seniors until Round 10, after playing four games in the VFL. That game, where he was used as a substitute for just 18 minutes in the last quarter, nearly signaled the end of his time at Essendon.
He was sent back to the VFL afterward and struggled initially, averaging just 23 disposals and 2.6 tackles a game over his first three weeks, far from the dominance expected in that competition. However, he eventually found form in his fourth VFL game and was recalled to the seniors once again.
In his last five years at GWS before joining Essendon in 2019, Shiel averaged just under 26 disposals per game, while that dropped to just under 23 in his first four years with the Bombers. If we exclude his injury-interrupted 2023, his average of 21 disposals this year doesn’t stand out at first glance. Yet, when factoring in time on ground, this season became one of his most impactful.
Shiel led all Essendon players in disposals per time on ground, ahead of Merrett and Parish. Historically, he has leaned toward handballing over kicking, likely due to concerns over his foot skills. This year, however, he reached a near 50/50 balance between kicks and handballs, with a career-best kicking efficiency of over 71%. He only turned the ball over every nine disposals, a rate he hadn’t had since 2015, making him Essendon’s best midfielder in this category.
At stoppages, he and Parish were almost identical in picking up loose balls from hitouts, with Shiel ranking 11th among all players in the competition for centre clearances per attendance. Only the captain had more score involvements per time on ground from disposals than Shiel this year.
Overall, his performance slightly improved compared to last year. However, when comparing just the first seven games from last season, his peak rating saw a slight dip.
Worries.
The most glaring negative for Shiel is his continued battle with injuries, limiting him to just 21 games over the last two seasons and 48 across the past four. As a result, his time on ground has been carefully managed, averaging just over 49 minutes this season—well below what's expected of a midfielder.
While Shiel posted impressive numbers in key areas, particularly compared to his Essendon teammates, many of these metrics fall short in the broader competition.
For instance, 3.4 tackles per game is insufficient for a midfielder in the modern game, and he ranks last among Essendon midfielders for tackles and pressure acts per time on ground. Increasing his defensive pressure is an area in need of attention, as it applies to the entire Essendon midfield.
Hmm.
Of all the players reviewed here, Shiel presents the most intriguing point of view.
Like Parish and Merrett, Shiel excels as a loose ball player and first receiver. However, at 32 next year, despite improved numbers this season, it may be time to reassess his role. A potential move out of the midfield could open the door for younger talent, while Shiel transitions to a more outside role.
In 2023, before his injury, he spent considerable time starting at half-forward, acting as a link between the midfield and forwards, averaging 7.4 score involvements and 4.71 inside 50 entries across his first seven games.
This role could fill a gap in Essendon’s current lineup, and if Shiel returns to full fitness by Round 1, he could thrive in a similar capacity—offering relief as a midfield rotation while continuing to impact the scoreboard from the front half.
Caldwell.
On the way up.
The rise of Caldwell at Essendon continued this year, and I suspect it will only keep growing in the coming seasons. His 24 coaches' votes a recognition from upstairs on his improved performance, up from 14 votes of 2023.
Caldwell’s work covered multiple aspects of the game, winning the ball, using it effectively, and, crucially, applying pressure on the opposition.
Averaging 22.73 disposals per game might seem modest for a team that leads the competition with over 350 disposals per game, but for Caldwell, it's about quality, not quantity.
Both he and Durham were assigned the inside role this year and both showed there’s potential to be primary assets at it.
Caldwell earned over 40% of his disposals contested, with six of his 23 per game at ground level, including 1.73 hardball gets—ranking second only to Durham among Essendon midfielders who played six or more games. His groundball strength was on full display in Round 5, where he matched up against Liberatore and won eight of his own against the 3rd-ranked player in the competition.
Caldwell was also a key figure at stoppages. Outside of Setterfield,who only played four games, he led Essendon averaging 4.3 clearances per game, up from 3.3 in 2023. His efficiency at the centre bounce helped Essendon become the 3rd-best team in centre clearance differential.
Winning the ball is one thing, but getting effectiveness from it another. 24.2% of Caldwell’s disposals were part of scoring chains, ranking him 17th among the 46 players averaging 23 disposals or more. His 5.6 score involvements per game placed him within the top 50 for score involvements per time on ground.
Winning the ball, using it effectively, and now maintaining pressure. With increased midfield time comes the added responsibility of applying “heat” through tackling.
Caldwell averaged 6.5 tackles per game, placing him 9th of all players in the league who played six or more games, and 8th for tackles per time on ground. At Essendon, only Merrett had more pressure acts, with Caldwell ranking 26th overall in the league for pressure acts per time on ground.
Where can it improve.
While Caldwell and Durham were standouts for Essendon at ground level, there’s room for improvement. Caldwell ranked 52nd for hardball wins per time on ground among midfielders who appeared in six or more games.
Though he excelled at winning centre clearances, his stoppage work around the ground could be improved. This area is where hardball wins are crucial.
It’s no longer four versus four in a designated space like the centre square, now, it’s a more congested area with more players around the ball, making it harder to win possession and then clear it. His metrics at Essendon are excellent—he's number one for stoppage clearances among midfielders outside of Setterfield. However, across the competition, he ranks 47th among players who have played six or more games. This highlights a key area of concern for the Bombers, who finished 14th in this metric—something they need to address.
He was given enormous responsibilities against some well-established players in certain areas—some within his capabilities, like Liberatore, and others beyond them, such as Rowell. It was not entirely unexpected that he struggled against one of the competition’s best in Round 22.
2025.
Along with Durham, I hope Caldwell is given the first opportunity to build upon this year and hopefully become an answer to the groundball game that Essendon needs to improve on.
If he can play a part in this area over the course of the season, it will allow his teammates of Parish, Merrett, and hopefully Martin to become a combination with him, just like the other teams have with Liberatore to Bontempelli, Cripps to Walsh, and Rowell to Anderson.
At the moment, the Essendon midfield has an abundance of Bontempelli, Walsh, and Anderson, but not Liberatore, Cripps, and Rowell. He may not be the answer long term, but it's time he, Durham, Hobbs, and Tsatas were at least given the opportunity to see if they are.
Coming up in Part Two
Perkins.
Setterfield.
Hobbs.
Tsatas.
Draper.
Goldstein.
Bryan.
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