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Heading into the season, Essendon released a mini-documentary called “Spend a day with Brad Scott”. To be honest, it didn’t really present as the most riveting 24 hours. Most of it took place in a classroom type setting, with the coaches and players endeavouring to bed down a team defence. They sat with their notepads and biros, nodding and jotting and giving every impression that they were taking it all in. Clearly this was something that needed to be taught, that needed to be learned, and that needed to be swiftly implemented.
It was an acknowledgment that this has been their major malfunction for the entirety of Brad Scott’s tenure. And the way footy’s being played in 2026, if you don’t have a coherent and reliable team defence then you’re toast. Heading into Sunday's game against Port Adelaide, Essendon would have thought it was a prime chance to implement some of their summer learnings. Port, after all, had been every bit as disappointing against North Melbourne as Essendon had been against Hawthorn.
But in talent, in application and in system, Port were miles ahead. For a team that should have been smarting, the Bombers were a passive outfit, especially in the first term. They just poked, prodded, pointed fingers and chased tails. It was hard to know what they were trying to do but it seemed to revolve around a heavy emphasis on handball, which Port picked to pieces. They were bereft of energy, cohesion and defensive integrity. The only time there was any excitement and any grounds for optimism was whenever Nate Caddy and Isaac Kako went near the ball.
The greatest indictment, just as it had been against Hawthorn, was the ease with which Port Adelaide moved the ball. Their gun players Zak Butters and Jason Horne-Francis met little resistance. And they were able to attack from deep in their defence, chipping through Essendon in neat, 30 metre angle changers.
Suited up for Fox footy, Ken Hinkley mingled with his former players before the game and what stood out was the mutual affection and respect. Addressing them a little more informally than in the past, he nonetheless still had their full attention. And it was a reminder of the challenge facing Josh Carr – taking over from a coach who’s still popular with the playing group, endeavouring to implement a new gameplan and operating under the knowledge that your best player is almost certain to leave at the end of the season. Last week they were smashed at all the things they were good at under Hinkley. They looked small and slight. But they played with a renewed vigour on Sunday.
Given Essendon’s limitations, however, it’s hard to know how much to read into the win. In October, president Andrew Welsh said they were the most “united, motivated and galvanised group” he had seen during his time at the club. Zach Merrett was feeling it too. “There’s so much optimism, excitement and energy at the club,” he said. “It feels like so much excitement and optimism and newness.” But no one’s talking like that now. If this team can’t learn to defend, the other 17 clubs will continue to make a mockery of them.
The individual highlight of the week was an uncle mowing down his nephew at the MCG. Maurice Rioli Jr told the Age that he honed his skills chasing buffalo and by climbing tress to shake down possums. The last thing you want when you’re running into an open goal is a man on your hammer who’s been collaring possums and chasing buffalo all summer.
But in a truncated round (a triumph of scheduling in the middle of March) the standout team performance came from the Western Bulldogs on Friday night. A three-goal deficit at the last break is often the best place for the more cautious teams to launch from, as Fremantle demonstrated a number of times in 2025. And when Adelaide (finally) released the handbrake, they had the crowd powering them home. But five minutes later, the Adelaide Oval was a cacophony of boos. I’m not sure what they were booing, but whatever it was, it was a backhanded compliment to the Western Bulldogs.
For this is a serious Dogs team, a team to trust, a team that can win in a number of different modes. When the fixture was released, their first six weeks looked nasty. But they’ve already beaten last year’s minor and major premiers away from Melbourne. They have half a dozen players who have improved markedly. And their backline is finally sound. It therefore makes perfect sense, as one of the most watchable and in-form teams in Australia, that they take a break for 17 days in the middle of March. Who needs the comedy festival when you have the AFL fixture?
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