eth-dog
Tier 1 WW Player
Essendon Player Sponsor 2026 - Archie Perkins and Nic Martin
Las Vegas Bears - Sweet F.A.
Essendon Player Sponsor 2025 - Archie Perkins and Nic Martin
Werewolf - Town of Salem
Sweet F.A. 300+ Games Played in the SFA
Doctor Who's Tardis
Essendon Player Sponsor 2024 - Archie Perkins and Nic Martin
Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2007
- Posts
- 129,313
- Reaction score
- 88,958
- Location
- Melbourne
- AFL Club
- Essendon
- Other Teams
- Coburg Lions, All Boston sides
Pre-Season:
Essendon: Essendon split their pre-season ganes, with some very promising signs from several kids for the Dons, including the likes of Max Kondogiannis and Hussein El Achkar both in line for senior debuts alongside two of our first round draftees.
Hawthorne: The Hawks also split their pre-season matches, but the big loss against the Western Bulldogs could be of some concern to Sam Mitchell. With no big additions in the off season, the Hawks are going to be hoping that natural improvement from their kids will help.
Head to Head (last 5)
Essendon 4-1 Hawthorne
Form Guide (last 5):
Essendon: 1W 1L
Hawthorne: 1W 1L
Possible sides
Essendon vs Hawthorne
FB: Andrew McGrath - Ben McKay - Jacob Farrow
FF: Nick Watson - Mabior Chol - Jack Gunston
HB: Mason Redman - Zach Reid - Archie Roberts
HF: Dylan Moore - Mitchell Lewis - Jack Ginnivan
MF: Angus Clarke - Jye Caldwell - Brayden Fiorini
MF: Massimo D'Ambrosio - Josh Ward - Josh Weddle
HF: Archie Perkins - Nate Caddy - Matt Guelfi
HB: Karl Amon - Josh Battle - Jarman Impey
FF: Hussein El Achkar - Peter Wright - Kyle Langford
FB: Blake Hardwick - Tom Barrass - James Sicily
OB: Lachlan Blakiston - Darcy Parish - Zach Merrett
OB: Lloyd Meek - Jai Newcombe - Connor MacDonald
IC: Max Kondogiannis - Xavier Duursma - Dyson Sharp - Elijah Tsatas - Jayden Nguyen
IC: Sam Butler - Conor Nash - Henry Hustwaite - Jack Scrimshaw - Harry Morrison
Hawthorne defence vs Essendon forward line
Last season Essendon's forward line was statistically one of the worst in the league, kicking a goal 20.48% of the time they entered 50 and scoring 40.5% of the time they entered 50, 16th and 17th in those stats respectively. Hawthorne on the flipside had one of the stingiest defences in the league, conceding a goal 20.97% of the time it enters their defensive 50, and a score 42.02% of the time, 3rd and 4th in the AFL.
The Bombers will be spearheaded by Peter Wright, the forward/ruck having kicked 28 goals last year, averaging 2 goals a game against the Hawkes over his career, whilst young gun Nate Caddy will likely have to deal with Josh Battle as he tries to assert himself in the competition in his 3rd year at the level, with young Hussein El Achkar likely to make his senior debut against Blake Hardwick for the Tigers.
Midfield/rucks battle
The Bombers were 13th and 11th in terms of contested possession and clearance difference in 2025, with the Hawkes were 8th and 16th in those areas respectively, highlighting the Hawks pursuit into improving their midfield for this season.
Essendon's midfield mix will be lead by Jye Caldwell with a potential Sam Durham suspension, and will be supported by Zach Merrett and Darcy Parish primarily, the trio all possessing very strong offensive capabilities, alongside first round draftee Dyson Sharp in there, whilst the Hawks main man will be Jai Newcombe, the star midfielder, with the likes of Conor Nash and Josh Ward helping them inside, with the Hawks having a distinct size advantage compared to the Dons on the inside. On the outside, Josh Weddle and Massimo D'Ambrosio have been classy players for the Hawks the past few years whereas Essendon will be hoping the addition of Brayden Fiorini and young gun Angus Clarke can match the Hawks pair. Rucks wise, the new rules favour Blakiston over Meek at the centre, however around the ground Meek's physicality will give him an advantage.
Hawthorne forward line vs Essendon defence
In 2025 the Hawkes averaged a goal 24.96% of the time they entered forward 50, and a score 45.34% of the time, ranking them 6th and 5th in those areas respectively. Essendon conceded a goal 25.82% of the time it enters their defensive 50 and a score 46.93% of the time in there, ranking 15th and 13th in those areas last year.
Hawthorne will launch a three pronged attack between Mitchell Lewis, Mabior Chol and Jack Gunston, with the trio likely to receive attention from Ben McKay, Zach Reid and Max Kondogiannis on debut, the Hawks would be looking at those match ups favourably whilst their small forward trio of Nick Watson, Jack Ginnivan and Dylan Moore will be tough match ups for Bomber captain Andrew McGrath, as well as Jayden Nguyen and Mason Redman back there
Key stat
Essendon: Clearances. Essendon are a good clearance side when fully fit so they need to get on top in this regard to win this game.
Hawthorne: F50 efficiency. The Hawks have an excellent forward line and need to capitilise on a relatively average Essendon defence
Tip
Hawks quite comfortably unfortunately
Essendon: Essendon split their pre-season ganes, with some very promising signs from several kids for the Dons, including the likes of Max Kondogiannis and Hussein El Achkar both in line for senior debuts alongside two of our first round draftees.
Hawthorne: The Hawks also split their pre-season matches, but the big loss against the Western Bulldogs could be of some concern to Sam Mitchell. With no big additions in the off season, the Hawks are going to be hoping that natural improvement from their kids will help.
Head to Head (last 5)
Essendon 4-1 Hawthorne
Form Guide (last 5):
Essendon: 1W 1L
Hawthorne: 1W 1L
Possible sides
Essendon vs Hawthorne
FB: Andrew McGrath - Ben McKay - Jacob Farrow
FF: Nick Watson - Mabior Chol - Jack Gunston
HB: Mason Redman - Zach Reid - Archie Roberts
HF: Dylan Moore - Mitchell Lewis - Jack Ginnivan
MF: Angus Clarke - Jye Caldwell - Brayden Fiorini
MF: Massimo D'Ambrosio - Josh Ward - Josh Weddle
HF: Archie Perkins - Nate Caddy - Matt Guelfi
HB: Karl Amon - Josh Battle - Jarman Impey
FF: Hussein El Achkar - Peter Wright - Kyle Langford
FB: Blake Hardwick - Tom Barrass - James Sicily
OB: Lachlan Blakiston - Darcy Parish - Zach Merrett
OB: Lloyd Meek - Jai Newcombe - Connor MacDonald
IC: Max Kondogiannis - Xavier Duursma - Dyson Sharp - Elijah Tsatas - Jayden Nguyen
IC: Sam Butler - Conor Nash - Henry Hustwaite - Jack Scrimshaw - Harry Morrison
Hawthorne defence vs Essendon forward line
Last season Essendon's forward line was statistically one of the worst in the league, kicking a goal 20.48% of the time they entered 50 and scoring 40.5% of the time they entered 50, 16th and 17th in those stats respectively. Hawthorne on the flipside had one of the stingiest defences in the league, conceding a goal 20.97% of the time it enters their defensive 50, and a score 42.02% of the time, 3rd and 4th in the AFL.
The Bombers will be spearheaded by Peter Wright, the forward/ruck having kicked 28 goals last year, averaging 2 goals a game against the Hawkes over his career, whilst young gun Nate Caddy will likely have to deal with Josh Battle as he tries to assert himself in the competition in his 3rd year at the level, with young Hussein El Achkar likely to make his senior debut against Blake Hardwick for the Tigers.
Midfield/rucks battle
The Bombers were 13th and 11th in terms of contested possession and clearance difference in 2025, with the Hawkes were 8th and 16th in those areas respectively, highlighting the Hawks pursuit into improving their midfield for this season.
Essendon's midfield mix will be lead by Jye Caldwell with a potential Sam Durham suspension, and will be supported by Zach Merrett and Darcy Parish primarily, the trio all possessing very strong offensive capabilities, alongside first round draftee Dyson Sharp in there, whilst the Hawks main man will be Jai Newcombe, the star midfielder, with the likes of Conor Nash and Josh Ward helping them inside, with the Hawks having a distinct size advantage compared to the Dons on the inside. On the outside, Josh Weddle and Massimo D'Ambrosio have been classy players for the Hawks the past few years whereas Essendon will be hoping the addition of Brayden Fiorini and young gun Angus Clarke can match the Hawks pair. Rucks wise, the new rules favour Blakiston over Meek at the centre, however around the ground Meek's physicality will give him an advantage.
Hawthorne forward line vs Essendon defence
In 2025 the Hawkes averaged a goal 24.96% of the time they entered forward 50, and a score 45.34% of the time, ranking them 6th and 5th in those areas respectively. Essendon conceded a goal 25.82% of the time it enters their defensive 50 and a score 46.93% of the time in there, ranking 15th and 13th in those areas last year.
Hawthorne will launch a three pronged attack between Mitchell Lewis, Mabior Chol and Jack Gunston, with the trio likely to receive attention from Ben McKay, Zach Reid and Max Kondogiannis on debut, the Hawks would be looking at those match ups favourably whilst their small forward trio of Nick Watson, Jack Ginnivan and Dylan Moore will be tough match ups for Bomber captain Andrew McGrath, as well as Jayden Nguyen and Mason Redman back there
Key stat
Essendon: Clearances. Essendon are a good clearance side when fully fit so they need to get on top in this regard to win this game.
Hawthorne: F50 efficiency. The Hawks have an excellent forward line and need to capitilise on a relatively average Essendon defence
Tip
Hawks quite comfortably unfortunately
