Red and Black Unfiltered

Pete & Josh are back to chat all things Bombers after our horrendous Round 17 loss to the Saints. The game review time is deliberately curtailed, and the boys quickly move onto the real news and debate around the club from the past week. The boys discuss the coaching process which has now officially kicked off, with candidates going on 'coffee-dates'. We chat Solly, Hirdy, Longmire, Hi...

This week, Pete and Coops unpack Essendon's decision to use an internal-only coaching recruitment panel and ask the big question: is this a sign of decisive leadership, or another example of the club looking inward when it should be looking outside? We break down the loss, the effort (or lack of it), and the tactical moves that caught our eye, including Harry Jones down back, Ben McKay's r...

Another week, another massive conversation around the future of the Essendon Football Club. After a frustrating performance against Melbourne, the boys including return special guest Boydy, break down the key moments from the game, highlighting the standout performers, the concerns around the ruck division, ongoing forward line issues, and the players who failed to deliver when it mattered most. W...

The boys are back after another week on the emotional roller-coaster that is the Essendon Football Club. Following the clash with Carlton, while the result didn't quite materialise, there were signs of something different under interim coach Solly. We unpack whether the defensive game plan has already taken a step forward, what that says about where the club has been, and where it might be hea...

The boys are back for a massive week at the Essendon Football Club, and there’s plenty to unpack. Thats an understatement! We start with the disappointing loss to West Coast — a game many hoped would deliver the classic caretaker-coach bounce, but instead produced another frustrating performance from the Bombers. With Brad Scott now gone, we discuss Dean Solomon's first game in charge and prov...

Just WOW.....the boys unpack one of the biggest shake-ups the club has faced in recent history. Following the shock (or maybe not so shock) departure of Brad Scott, we dive headfirst into the fallout — what led to the decision, the mixed messaging coming out of the club, and whether internal politics and factional influence have once again become part of the Essendon story. Of course, the Messiah...

Pete is back with pod favourite Josh and pulling no punches. This week the boys dissect the latest Essendon performance against Freo — who stood up, who didn't, and what it means for a club in the middle of a serious rebuild. They get into the coaching style debate, whether the current setup is actually getting the best out of the list, and what a future appointment could look like. The crowd...

The Giants game dissected — and it was close but not close enough. We tear apart the game plan, expose what went wrong at GWS Stadium (that record is cooked), and give our unfiltered take on where this team is headed. Then we hand out our R&B Unfiltered player of year votes for the standout performers, run the stocks — who's rising, who's falling. Flying blind is back! Rising Star nomi...

The boys are back with a late pod this week, breaking down another rollercoaster ride for the Essendon Football Club. We kick things off with a quick Good, Bad & Ugly from the Brissie game — from the exciting signs and growth shown by the young Bombers to the frustratingly flat start and overall limp performance that left plenty of fans frustrated. There’s also a strong spotlight on Ben McKay...

In this episode of Red & Black Unfiltered , we break down the Dons loss to the Pies brutal detail—dissecting a game plan that looked disconnected, selection calls that raised eyebrows, and player performances that simply didn’t stack up. We dive into the key moments that shaped the result, question the coaching approach, and assess what this means for the Bombers as the the expected turning po...

In this episode of Red & Black Unfiltered , Coops & Pete break down a very solid performance against the Suns. The turning point speculated feels to be now confirmed. The boys unpack key player contributions, midfield battles, and the tactical shifts starting to emerge under Brad Scott. From pressure acts and contested ball to structural changes and evolving player roles, we look at what a...

Pete and special guest Boydy jump straight into Essendon’s statement win — the one that finally snapped the 17 game losing streak — unpacking the moments, mindset shifts and tactical moves that made it happen. From the composure of Roberts to the class of Merrett, the engine of Parish and the spark of Kako, the boys break down the performances that drove the surge — and why maybe this version Bomb...

Pete and Coops break down Essendon’s clash with the Bulldogs and more importantly, what sparked that second-half turnaround that had fans back on the edge of their seats. Is this the start of a turning point for the Dons on the back of loss 17? They also look ahead to the upcoming gather round meeting with the Demons, unpacking team balance, selection dilemmas, and whether the Bombers can build co...

In this episode of Red & Black Unfiltered , Pete and Coops take a hard look at where the Bombers really stand right now. From inconsistent effort and questionable selection decisions to deeper concerns around leadership, culture, and coaching direction, nothing is off-limits. We break down recent performances and ask the tough questions: Is it effort, skill… or something more concerning? Are s...

Coops and Pete are back, and like most Essendon fans right now, they’ve got more questions than answers. From leadership gaps and poor defensive pressure to a team struggling for identity, the boys dig into what’s really behind Essendon’s woeful state. Is it system, personnel, or something deeper in the culture? Coops with the Scoops is back, with a few insights and whispers that add even more int...

The hype was real. Young list, clean bill of health, best preseason we’ve ever had… then Round 1 hit. Pete and Coops react to another all-too-familiar Essendon performance. A bright start, then a complete drop-off. Poor system, beaten at the contest, and the game gone quickly. Coops unloads on where it went wrong, whether the game plan stacks up, if the list is actually good enough, and whether pr...

The season hasn’t really started… but the predictions definitely have. We dive into Essendon’s 2026 outlook, from breakout players and rookie watch to who needs to lift this year. There’s ladder predictions, and a look at whether Brad Scott’s Bombers can finally take a step forward. We finish with a preview of the round one clash with Hawthorn. Enjoy Bomber Fans!

The boys are back for Season 2 of Red & Black Unfiltered. Coops and Pete break down the Zach Merrett trade drama, Essendon’s off season shake ups, a new group of exciting young players and the early signs from the Bombers pre season hit out against the Saints. There is plenty to like, plenty to question and a few familiar frustrations along the way. Strap in Bombers fans. The pod is back!

This week on Red & Black Unfiltered , Coops and Pete reflect on what was billed as “our Grand Final” against the Blues — and how it slipped away. They break down the key moments, the inside-50 pain, and where the Bombers fell short despite the stakes. Player performances come under the spotlight as Redman continues to shine, while the “Baby Bombers” in Clarke and Kako show plenty of promise. V...

In this week’s Red & Black Unfiltered , Pete and Coops break down Essendon’s fighting performance against the Saints. Despite falling short on the scoreboard, the Bombers showed plenty of heart, with another debutant stepping up and young players proving their worth. The boys dissect midfield depth in the absence of Merritt, hand out their player votes, and run through whose stock is rising an...

In this special edition of Red & Black Unfiltered , Pete is joined by former AFL sports doctor Dr. Clugston to go deep on Essendon’s unprecedented injury crisis. We unpack the causes, the pressure on medical teams, and the emotional toll on players. Dr. Clugston shares insider insights on concussion protocols, player rehab, and the ethical dilemmas faced in high-pressure environments. We also...

In this week’s episode of Red & Black Unfiltered , it’s feeling like Groundhog Day as Coops and Big Picture Pete wade through another chapter of the Bombers’ season. The Swannies game — and the sliver of respectability it brought — is digested. The players remain under the spotlight with this week’s Votes and Essendon Xchange : who’s standing up, and who’s fading out? BPP comes in hot with par...

In the latest instalment of Red & Black Unfiltered , emotions are mixed as the Giants cruise past the Dons in second gear. Pete and Coops dig into the growing pains of a young, injury-riddled Essendon side — can we really expect more, or are certain players now firmly under the microscope? The traditional Flying Blind segment returns, tackling hot topics including the game plan, our next high-...

This week on Red & Black Unfiltered , Coops and Pete break down a grim Essendon performance against as cracks in connectivity and cohesion continue to widen across the field. Yes — more serious injuries, this time to Martin and Setterfield. It’s now reaching unprecedented territory. Pete faces the heat in a special rapid-fire edition of Flying Blind , tackling the big questions about the list,...

In this week’s episode, Coops and Pete are back from the bye—jet-lagged, patched up, and ready to dissect another solid but in the end frustrating Essendon performance. As usual the all important match votes, rising stocks, and players in the gun. Scoops dives in the rising injury toll and how it’s potentially derailing our season. Whether the Bombers’ high-performance team is under the pump? (spo...