Bombers’ ‘black hole’ problem as clean-out begins ahead of McVeigh’s first off-season

A “black hole” in Essendon’s list has left the club in one of its murkiest ever periods as new coach Mark McVeigh is left to pick up the pieces.

Just weeks after being appointed senior coach, McVeigh already got the axe out, with the list turnover at Tullamarine in full swing.

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Former Pick 5 Elijah Tsatas and high-profile free agent signing Jade Gresham and veteran Matt Guelfi were among their delistings after a fifth wooden spoon in club history.

That bottom-placed finish does crucially give the Bombers Pick 1 to add to their young nucleus including Nate Caddy, Archie Roberts, Sullivan Robey, Jacob Farrow and Dyson Sharp.

But how did they get here?

The Bombers’ drafting over the last 10 years has come under the microscope after a series of misses with early selections.

It’s left a void of players in the 20-26-year old range that should make up the nucleus of a list.

ESSENDON’S FIRST-ROUND PICKS IN LAST 10 YEARS

2016 - Andy McGrath

2017 - no pick

2018 - no pick

2019 - no pick

2020 - Nik Cox, Archie Perkins, Zach Reid

2021 - Ben Hobbs

2022 - Elijah Tsatas

2023 - Nate Caddy

2024 - Isaac Kako

2025 - Sullivan Robey, Jacob Farrow, Dyson Sharp

“The problem is there’s a black hole in this club,” Herald Sun’s Scott Gullan said on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle.

“Andy McGrath, captain, obviously a great pick … Nate Caddy is the bookend of good and good – but look at that damage!

“You can’t do that! Good clubs can’t do this.

“Obviously it’s (also) development, but how can you build a list?”

TSATAS ‘CONCERN’ AS MORE DONS SET TO EXIT

The decision to not give Tsatas a new deal certainly got the footy world talking after he joined the club with so much promise as a top five pick only four years ago.

But in examining the failed Tsatas pick and Essendon’s wider woes, fellow Herald Sun reporter Ralph doesn’t think it should be purely put down to list management after Matt Rosa replaced long-time list boss Adrian Dodoro in 2024.

“The greatest cop out at Essendon is blaming Adrian Dodoro for anything that has ever happened in the last 100 years at this football club. That’s not fair,” Ralph said.

“The big concern for (Tsatas) is not only is he not a great kick, he’s not a great defensive runner.

“But what good clubs do is they find a way to address a player’s weakness. Instead, he played 22 games in four years.”

More Bombers are set to depart the club in the coming weeks.

Zach Merrett is likely to get his wish and be traded to Hawthorn a year after a deal fell through, while Jordan Ridley is also expected to be on the move amid links to North Melbourne.

Meanwhile, former first-round picks Archie Perkins and Nik Cox are still waiting on new deals along with Will Setterfield.

“The real challenge for the Dons here – we know they’ve drafted well the last couple of years post-Tsatas – but they won two games this year. One of them was against Melbourne at Gather Round, Tsatas had 29 touches and showed he can play. Jordan Ridley was outstanding, we understand he’s more than likely off to North Melbourne,” Ralph continued.

“And (Zach) Merrett was outstanding – all three will be gone by the end of the season.

“44 players turned over in five years – and that’s the challenge when they’re high draft picks that you’ve just got to get right to build your list.”

BUT MERRETT DEAL TO YIELD SMALLER RETURN AS ASSISTANCE PACKAGE VERDICT LOOMS

And Merrett is expected to get traded for a much cheaper price this time round after Essendon rejected Hawthorn’s offer of three first-round picks a year out from the ex-skipper being eligible for free agency.

“They had three first rounders (on the table from Hawthorn) … but if he left next year as a free agent and the club gets the wooden spoon again, they’d secure a top three pick as free agency compensation.

“They are getting the least they could ever get from him.

“But let’s face it, this could be a draft in which they get six or seven elite picks.”

It comes as the Bombers prepare to find out whether they will receive an assistance package from the AFL commission.

According to reports, Essendon had been eyeing a similar handout to what West Coast received last year; an end-of-first-round draft pick and extra rookie spots.

The Bombers reportedly also proposed for Tasmania to not be able to bid on their tied players including father-son prospect Koby Bewick, but it’s understood that’s unlikely.

So, what should Essendon get?

“You’re helping teams that are their own worst enemies,” Gullan said.

“A second-round pick, maybe. But there comes a point where we’ve got to turn the tap off, don’t we? Let Essendon try and get their way out of it.”

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