Essendon returns to Marvel Stadium in Round 8 with one of the toughest assignments in the AFL season. After a heavy 77-point loss to Collingwood on ANZAC Day, the Bombers now face the back-to-back premiers Brisbane Lions. For our full preview, including all the numbers that matter, listen here. For supporters of the Essendon Football Club, the question this week is simple. How does this young side respond against one of the league’s benchmark teams? This preview breaks down w

Anzac Day football always means more. For Essendon and Collingwood, it is one of the great annual fixtures of the AFL season. The crowd, the ceremony, the occasion and the pressure create a stage unlike any other home and away game. For the Bombers in 2026, this year’s clash arrives at an interesting moment. Essendon remains winless after six rounds, but last weekend’s narrow nine-point loss to Gold Coast felt different. It was not a performance of a side outclassed. It was t

Essendon opens the 2026 AFL season against Hawthorn. We break down the key matchups, Hawthorn’s strengths and weaknesses, and the tactical areas where the Bombers can win in Round 1.

What is Essendon’s outlook for the 2026 AFL season? Essendon enters the 2026 AFL season with one of the youngest lists in the competition after debuting 15 players in 2025. Improvement will likely depend on regaining territory dominance, reducing turnovers and developing their young core.