Essendon’s season has been heavily impacted by ongoing injuries affecting their key position players, with two more casualties added to the list during Friday night’s match. Despite these setbacks, the Bombers secured a hard-fought victory over a resilient, yet inexperienced Richmond team, winning 81-58 in the prestigious Dreamtime at the ‘G game attended by 76,000 fans.
For much of the match, Richmond kept pace with Essendon, but the Bombers ultimately asserted their dominance in the final quarter. Sadly, the night took a toll on Essendon, with star player Kyle Langford injuring his quad and being substituted out, while key defender Zach Reid was sidelined due to hamstring soreness, complicating an already challenging season.
Commentator Jon Ralph expressed his dismay at the situation, highlighting the dire circumstances faced by Essendon: “This is beyond a joke. Essendon’s talls are decimated,” he remarked on Fox Footy. The Bombers are now missing several key players, including Sam Draper, Tom Edwards, Nick Bryan, Lewis Hayes, Harrison Jones, Nik Cox, Jordan Ridley, along with Langford and Reid.
Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd lamented the growing injury list, pointing out that they have a challenging match against Brisbane at the Gabba just six days later. “Two crucial injuries. The book ends,” he shared with 3AW, speculating that Reid’s previous injuries would likely lead to caution in his management and that playing without Langford could mean he misses at least a month of action.
On a brighter note, Essendon debutant Angus Clarke made a significant impression, kicking three goals and showcasing his football intelligence throughout the match. Lloyd praised his performance, stating, “He’s been the story of the night with his footy smarts. Every touch of the footy, you can tell he knows how to play the game. His quality of disposal has been elite.”
Richmond also faced their own injury challenge, with Thomson Dow being substituted due to a knee issue and Sam Lalor experiencing hamstring concerns later in the game. As the Bombers prepare to face Brisbane, Richmond will take on GWS at Engie Stadium in round 12, marking a crucial stretch in the season for both teams.