Don The Stat

We are officially 45 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 t...

We are officially 46 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 th...

We are officially 47 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 t...

We are officially 48 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 th...

We are officially 49 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 t...

We are officially 52 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 th...

We are officially 51 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 th...

We are officially 52 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 th...

We are officially 53 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 th...

We are officially 54 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 th...

We are officially 55 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 th...

We are officially 56 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 th...

We are officially 57 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 th...

We are officially 58 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 th...

We are officially 59 days out from Essendon’s Round 1 clash with Hawthorn, under lights at the MCG on Friday night — 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. From tomorrow, we’re kicking off a daily countdown to Round 1 2026 but instead of just ticking off days on a calendar, we’re...

It’s our end-of-year wrap for 2025 — and we’re packing a lot in. Jono and Humey cover Craig Vozzo’s departure and why his three-year tenure matters, then dive deep on Essendon’s 2025 draft haul (including the move that landed pick 9) and what it means for list balance heading into 2026. From Sullivan Robey’s high-upside profile and Jacob Farrow’s left-foot class, to Dyson Sharp looking ready-made...

In this episode of Don The Stat, Jono and Ian dive into a stack of listener-submitted hot takes for the 2026 season, ranging from the genuinely insightful to the absolutely off-the-rails.   We cover list size reform, the Zach Merrett trade debate, and whether Scott Gumbleton is Essendon’s biggest non-saga “what if” of the past 20 years. We look at coaching structures, concussion subs, the new ruck...

With trade week done and dusted, it’s time to turn our attention to the 2025 National Draft. Jonathan Walsh and Ian Hume are joined by draft watcher and training-vision legend Rick Edwards for a deep dive into the players Essendon could target with picks 5, 6, 21, 27 and 30. Rick shares his Top 10 prospects, breaks down the strengths, weaknesses, and comparisons of names like Willem Duursma, Sulli...

Don The Stat returns with a full breakdown of Essendon’s 2025 trade period and a clear-eyed preview of the AFL Draft.   Jonathan Walsh and Ian Hume unpack:   The Zach Merrett trade standoff: what Hawthorn offered, why Essendon said no, and what it means for 2026.   Andrew Welsh’s early moves as President and the stabilising effect on the club.   Dean Solomon’s appointment as defensive coach and ho...

Ian is joined by Todd from the Flight Plan Podcast as we take stock on the Trade Period as of Friday the 10th of October.   This was recorded live on Twitter Spaces. As such, the audio quality was not the best. Apologies for that   Follow the Flight Plan here: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ALXYwGNJN9AiJTQGVdpeQ   Watch 'The Moment that Mattered' and listen to our Post Match First Thoughts exclusi...

Jono and Ian present the second annual Jack Kirby Medal, the Don the Stat Best and Fairest award voted by the Hosts and the Patrons. We reflect on each game in the year and award the winner this prestigious award.    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....

Ian and Rick Edwards are back to go over the performance of Essendon's players in 2025, from Archie Roberts to Liam McMahon.  Follow Rick on X at https://x.com/BomberRicko 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 a...

Ian is joined by friend of the show Rick Edwards to rate and review the seasons of each Essendon player who played a senior game in 2025. In Part 1 we go from McGrath to Wright. Part 2 with the rest of the players will be out shortly.   Follow Rick on X at https://x.com/BomberRicko   Watch 'The Moment that Mattered' and listen to our Post Match First Thoughts exclusively on Patreon at https://www....

Jono and Ian take questions from their Patrons who joined them live on Zoom. Lots to discuss on the season that was, especially regarding the Captain of the club and all the news swirling around that now.    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/ Foll...

Jono and Ian review the annus horribilis that was the Essendon 2025 Season, digging into the stats and gameplan issues that reared their heads. They also talk about some of the difficult list management decisions that the club faces heading in to the Drafts and Trade period.      Watch 'The Moment that Mattered' and listen to our Post Match First Thoughts exclusively on Patreon at https://www.patr...