Essendon’s 2026 season is almost here.

With Round 1 against Hawthorn just 8 days away, Jono and Humey return for the annual Don The Stat Season Preview. Breaking down everything Bombers fans need to know heading into the new AFL season.

After a brutal 2025 that saw 15 debutants and a 13-game losing streak, the big question is whether the young Bombers can take a step forward in 2026.

In this episode we analyse:

• What the practice matches revealed
• The key statistical trends that shaped Essendon’s 2025 season
• Which metrics will matter most in 2026
• List changes and emerging young talent
• The biggest strengths and weaknesses of the squad
• A full SWOT analysis of the Bombers
• Our three bold predictions for the season ahead

Plus:

• Another Damian Barrett Lifetime Achievement Award nomination
• Discussion around Essendon’s midfield, intercept game and turnover defence
• Which players have surged into Round 1 contention

If Essendon is going to improve in 2026, the answers will likely come from territory, turnovers and transition football.

We break down exactly what to watch for.

_____

Watch 'The Moment that Mattered' and listen to our Post Match First Thoughts exclusively on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/donthestat

Don The Stat Website: https://www.donthestat.com/

Follow Us on Twitter and Bluesky:

Jono at twitter.com/JonathanJWalsh / https://bsky.app/profile/jonathanjwalsh.bsky.social

Ian at twitter.com/Kyptastic1 / https://bsky.app/profile/kyptastic.bsky.social

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We are officially 7 days out from Essendon’s Round 1 clash with Hawthorn, under lights at the MCG on March 13 and between now and then, we’re doing something a little bit different. Leading into the 2025 Season, we counted down our Top 100 Essendon players since 1980. In 2026, we’re kicking off a daily countdown to Round 1, 2026 but instead of just ticking off days on a calendar, we’re counting them down through Essendon’s guernsey numbers.

Who wore it first. Who wore it most. Which Premiership players pulled it on. Brownlow winners, club legends, cult heroes, and sometimes the obscure one-gamer that still forms part of the story.

By the time we get to Number 1, we’ll be on the eve of Round 1 — and we’ll have walked through more than a century of Essendon history, one jumper at a time.

We’ll be back tomorrow for Day 6 and Guernsey Number 6.

_______________________

Links:

Don The Stat Website | The Official Home of Don The Stat Don The Stat Patreon

Don The Stat on Facebook

Don The Stat on Instagram

Follow Us on X / Twitter

Jono / Ian

Essendon’s 2026 season is almost here.

With Round 1 against Hawthorn just 8 days away, Jono and Humey return for the annual Don The Stat Season Preview. Breaking down everything Bombers fans need to know heading into the new AFL season.

After a brutal 2025 that saw 15 debutants and a 13-game losing streak, the big question is whether the young Bombers can take a step forward in 2026.

In this episode we analyse:

• What the practice matches revealed
• The key statistical trends that shaped Essendon’s 2025 season
• Which metrics will matter most in 2026
• List changes and emerging young talent
• The biggest strengths and weaknesses of the squad
• A full SWOT analysis of the Bombers
• Our three bold predictions for the season ahead

Plus:

• Another Damian Barrett Lifetime Achievement Award nomination
• Discussion around Essendon’s midfield, intercept game and turnover defence
• Which players have surged into Round 1 contention

If Essendon is going to improve in 2026, the answers will likely come from territory, turnovers and transition football.

We break down exactly what to watch for.

_____

Watch 'The Moment that Mattered' and listen to our Post Match First Thoughts exclusively on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/donthestat

Don The Stat Website: https://www.donthestat.com/

Follow Us on Twitter and Bluesky:

Jono at twitter.com/JonathanJWalsh / https://bsky.app/profile/jonathanjwalsh.bsky.social

Ian at twitter.com/Kyptastic1 / https://bsky.app/profile/kyptastic.bsky.social

Don The Stat Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/donthestat

Follow Don The Stat on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/donthestat?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

We are officially 8 days out from Essendon’s Round 1 clash with Hawthorn, under lights at the MCG on March 13 and between now and then, we’re doing something a little bit different. Leading into the 2025 Season, we counted down our Top 100 Essendon players since 1980. In 2026, we’re kicking off a daily countdown to Round 1, 2026 but instead of just ticking off days on a calendar, we’re counting them down through Essendon’s guernsey numbers.

Who wore it first. Who wore it most. Which Premiership players pulled it on. Brownlow winners, club legends, cult heroes, and sometimes the obscure one-gamer that still forms part of the story.

By the time we get to Number 1, we’ll be on the eve of Round 1 — and we’ll have walked through more than a century of Essendon history, one jumper at a time.

Guernsey Number 8 a jumper that has been worn by Premiership players, prolific goal-kickers, and some of the club’s most durable performers.

We’ll be back tomorrow for Day 7 and Guernsey Number 7.

_______________________

Links:

Don The Stat Website | The Official Home of Don The Stat Don The Stat Patreon

Don The Stat on Facebook

Don The Stat on Instagram

Follow Us on X / Twitter

Jono / Ian

We are officially 9 days out from Essendon’s Round 1 clash with Hawthorn, under lights at the MCG on March 13 and between now and then, we’re doing something a little bit different. Leading into the 2025 Season, we counted down our Top 100 Essendon players since 1980. In 2026, we’re kicking off a daily countdown to Round 1, 2026 but instead of just ticking off days on a calendar, we’re counting them down through Essendon’s guernsey numbers.

Who wore it first. Who wore it most. Which Premiership players pulled it on. Brownlow winners, club legends, cult heroes, and sometimes the obscure one-gamer that still forms part of the story.

By the time we get to Number 1, we’ll be on the eve of Round 1 — and we’ll have walked through more than a century of Essendon history, one jumper at a time.

We’ll be back tomorrow for Day 8 and Guernsey Number 8.

_______________________

Links:

Don The Stat Website | The Official Home of Don The Stat Don The Stat Patreon

Don The Stat on Facebook

Don The Stat on Instagram

Follow Us on X / Twitter

Jono / Ian

We are officially 10 days out from Essendon’s Round 1 clash with Hawthorn, under lights at the MCG on March 13 and between now and then, we’re doing something a little bit different. Leading into the 2025 Season, we counted down our Top 100 Essendon players since 1980. In 2026, we’re kicking off a daily countdown to Round 1, 2026 but instead of just ticking off days on a calendar, we’re counting them down through Essendon’s guernsey numbers.

Who wore it first. Who wore it most. Which Premiership players pulled it on. Brownlow winners, club legends, cult heroes, and sometimes the obscure one-gamer that still forms part of the story.

By the time we get to Number 1, we’ll be on the eve of Round 1 — and we’ll have walked through more than a century of Essendon history, one jumper at a time.

Guernsey Number 10 stands as one of the most powerful symbols in Essendon history.

We’ll be back tomorrow for Day 9 and Guernsey Number 9.

_______________________

Links:

Don The Stat Website | The Official Home of Don The Stat Don The Stat Patreon

Don The Stat on Facebook

Don The Stat on Instagram

Follow Us on X / Twitter

Jono / Ian

We are officially 11 days out from Essendon’s Round 1 clash with Hawthorn, under lights at the MCG on March 13 and between now and then, we’re doing something a little bit different. Leading into the 2025 Season, we counted down our Top 100 Essendon players since 1980. In 2026, we’re kicking off a daily countdown to Round 1, 2026 but instead of just ticking off days on a calendar, we’re counting them down through Essendon’s guernsey numbers.

Who wore it first. Who wore it most. Which Premiership players pulled it on. Brownlow winners, club legends, cult heroes, and sometimes the obscure one-gamer that still forms part of the story.

By the time we get to Number 1, we’ll be on the eve of Round 1 — and we’ll have walked through more than a century of Essendon history, one jumper at a time.

We’ll be back tomorrow for Day 10 and Guernsey Number 10.

_______________________

Links:

Don The Stat Website | The Official Home of Don The Stat Don The Stat Patreon

Don The Stat on Facebook

Don The Stat on Instagram

Follow Us on X / Twitter

Jono / Ian

Our unbeaten pre-season run is over.

In our final hit-out before Round 1, Essendon went down to St Kilda in Ballarat and this one gave us a much clearer picture of where the side is really at.

Normally, First Thoughts is exclusive to our Patreon community. But as promised for pre-season, we’re releasing this one publicly.

In this episode we cover:

• A passive midfield beaten at centre bounce (9–18 clearances)

• Poor use of the spare at stoppage

• Zach Merrett behind the ball – lesson learned?

• An eight-minute third-quarter lapse that broke the game open

• Aggressive forward-half press returns (six forward-half turnovers in the first half)

• Dyson Sharp’s composure, strength and score involvements

• Lachie Blackiston’s competitiveness against Marshall & De Koning

• Zach Johnson’s most complete game yet

• Signs the structure is holding up - outside of one costly burst

The margin ended up seven goals, but the game was within seven points late in the third quarter before St Kilda capitalised on centre bounce dominance and 6-6-6 momentum.

Plenty to tidy up. Plenty to like.

We break it down. High level, immediate reaction, no overreactions.

Full review and season preview coming Thursday.