There's doom and gloom here if you want it. There's positivity here if you want it. To me the reality is that we're doing exactly what we needed to do, hit the draft, play the kids, develop them and get them to 50-60 games as quickly as we can whilst embedding the way we want to play.

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 vs Gold Coast Suns Round 6 preview with AFL analysis, match tactics, selection news and key Bombers storylines. Can Essendon back up its win over Melbourne?