Overview

• A 41-point loss to Fremantle marked Essendon’s fourth straight defeat, dropping the Bombers to a 6-8 record heading into the bye week.
• The club’s injury list has expanded to 13, with Sam Draper and Nick Bryan ruled out for the season and Ben McKay’s return date still undecided.
• Key players Kyle Langford, Jordan Ridley, Mason Redman and Zach Reid are expected to be available after the bye, offering a potential lift for the Bombers.
• Coach Brad Scott is working to rebuild Archie Perkins’s confidence after the 23-year-old midfielder fumbled a straightforward mark and struggled with hesitation against the Dockers.
• Captain Zach Merrett managed just 17 possessions in Perth following a shift into the forward line, prompting questions about his midfield deployment.