On Wednesday, Essendon coach Brad Scott expressed enthusiasm at the prospect of welcoming back promising defender Zach Reid, who, after a week’s rest, had been medically cleared to return. However, shortly after, Reid was sent for scans due to a hamstring issue, leading to widespread frustration among Bombers supporters.
This season, Essendon has seen a staggering 40 of their 47 listed players participate in at least one game, the highest tally since 2015 with months still to play. In contrast, Geelong has used just 30 players, Adelaide 31, and Collingwood 32, with Essendon standing alone in the 40s. Such injury struggles have significantly impacted the team’s performance, with pivotal players like Reid, Kyle Langford, and Darcy Parish unable to maintain consistent match fitness.
Long-term injuries have also plagued the club, especially affecting key position players. They lost their top two ruckmen, Sam Draper (torn Achilles) and Nick Bryan (torn ACL), while high-profile recruit Ben McKay has yet to return from a ruptured plantar plate injury. Young players like Lewis Hayes and Thomas Edwards faced torn ACLs, denying them valuable game time amid a challenging season.
Adding to their woes, tall forward Harrison Jones suffered an ankle fracture during a match. The situation deepened for Essendon with versatile player Nik Cox awaiting a concussion ruling, echoing the concerns over the long-term impact of injuries on his young career.
While Essendon was not a favourite for the premiership, they were competing on points with the teams in the top eight as recently as Round 11. However, the convergence of recurring injuries has left them in a difficult position. Scott recognised the need to investigate the root causes of these injuries, indicating a club-wide effort to evaluate performance and training methods.
Former West Coast coach Adam Simpson, who experienced similar injury crises, noted how these situations challenge a team’s capacity. He acknowledged the difficulty in managing training intensity while dealing with a long injury list and suggested the club should audit its processes to prevent further setbacks.
Looking ahead, Essendon faces the challenge of addressing this crisis as the season concludes. With many injuries likely to extend into the following year, fans are encouraged to exercise patience and hope for an improvement in health and a stroke of good fortune. The club’s immediate future hinges on resolving these issues to ensure better performance in the upcoming seasons.