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News.com.au
5 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Teenage ruckman Vigo Visentini to be Essendon's 11th debutant for 2025
The deluge of debutants at injury-hit Essendon is set to continue with ruckman Vigo Visentini called up for Thursday night's clash with Fremantle in Perth. A five-day break between games forced coach Brad Scott to find help for veteran Todd Goldstein, who has been filling the breach after season-ending injuries to Sam Draper and Nick Bryan. In last Saturday's smashing by Geelong, Lachie Blakiston and Archer May became the 9th and 10th Essendon players to make their AFL debuts this season, and now 203cm, 19-year-old Vistentini will get his chance. Visentini will be the 11th first-gamer for the Bombers in 2025, joining Isaac Kako, Tom Edwards, Saad El-Hawli, Archer Day-Wicks, Lewis Hayes, Angus Clarke, Zak Johnson, Luamon Lual, Blakiston and May. The teenage big man is the younger brother of Port Adelaide ruckman Dante Visentini. The moment 🥰 VIIIIGGGOOOOO. — Essendon FC (@essendonfc) June 16, 2025 Essendon has 13 players on its injury list and is also without midfield bull Sam Durham for one more week after copping a suspension. The Bombers are still in 12th spot despite Saturday night's 95-point shellacking from the Cats, after which Scott spoke about the challenge of trying to compete with such a young, inexperienced group. 'We're trying to educate the chess pieces where to go, and that's what we've got to get excited about as a coaching group,' he said. 'We stepped back tonight, without doubt, but the previous two weeks has shown that there's enough fight and there's enough capability within this group, and we'll never concede. 'We'll keep coaching, keep working with them. I've seen enough intestinal fortitude to suggest that there's reasons to be optimistic about the future, albeit it doesn't feel like that right now. 'The positive of that is we've exposed players to AFL footy that wouldn't have played otherwise, and there are some of those young boys that I don't think would go out of our team for a long time.'
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
What Essendon forward learned from shock axing
Towering Essendon forward Peter Wright believes he has bounced back from a shock axing last year with better "clarity" in his game. After booting 52 goals in 2022 to claim the Bombers' Crichton Medal, Wright endured a tough 2024 that included being dropped late in the season. The 28-year-old missed four games through suspension for a bump gone wrong on Sydney defender Harry Cunningham in round two. After returning, Wright only had brief moments close to his best and described the campaign as "challenging". "Not too many people who play footy ever have it all their own way," he told AAP. "I wasn't playing my best footy last year; a little bit inconsistent and probably a little bit indecisive out there. "So I feel like I got some much better clarity." An ankle issue delayed his start to 2025, but Wright bounced back immediately on return with a superb six-goal haul in a tight win against West Coast in round six. "I had a really strong off-season, pre-season, to get the body in good shape," Wright said. "I had a little bit of a hiccup with the ankle, but physically feeling good and eventually just getting some more clarity and wanting to build on that." Wright's presence will be vital in an Essendon team experiencing an injury crisis, particularly to key position players. First-choice rucks Sam Draper and Nick Bryan suffered season-ending injuries, meaning veteran Todd Goldstein has had to step up to be the Bombers' No.1 big man. Wright is giving important help to Goldstein as a back-up ruck, as well as being a presence up forward. Crafty forward Kyle Langford (quad) and breakout defender Zach Reid (hamstring) will both be out for up to six weeks after hurting themselves in the Dreamtime win against Richmond last Friday. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Peter Wright (@petewright_) Teenage defender Zak Johnson has already been confirmed to be Essendon's seventh debutant of the season, selected to play against reigning premiers the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba on Thursday night. "We clearly want to have, like every team, the next man up mentality," Wright said. "We're going to have to rely on our depth as a playing list, but the flip side has been the positives in being able to play (seven) debutants this year. "Who knows, we might build on that in coming weeks."
Sydney Morning Herald
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
While clubs are being cagey about their mid-season draft plans, one Tiger cub looks a certainty
Essendon could have a pick later in the draft than the Giants and Fremantle even if the clubs all have five wins after 11 rounds as the Bombers have a game up their sleeve following the cancellation of their round zero game due to Cyclone Alfred. The Bombers could use four picks in the mid-season rookie draft, but it remains to be seen whether they will use them all. One recruiter also told Money Talks that because the Bombers had multiple picks, rivals were playing their cards tighter to their chest ahead of the draft. Essendon's need for a ruckman is obvious after season-ending injuries to Sam Draper and Nick Bryan left them reliant on veteran Todd Goldstein. While 19-year-old ruckman Zac Harding has impressed, he's viewed as a long-term prospect who is unlikely to fill the immediate needs of any clubs looking to add depth. Harding is playing as a top-aged prospect in the Coates Talent League after training with Carlton's VFL team in pre-season. The Blues gave VFL forward and former Magpie Liam McMahon a trial in the pre-season. The 23-year-old has been in good form, kicking 22 goals in six games to sit second on the 'Frosty' Miller Medal table for leading VFL goalkicker. Former Tigers VFL player Archer May has been performing well for Subiaco in the WAFL. The key forward moved west at the end of last season and represented the WAFL against the SANFL this year. Geelong premiership player Brandan Parfitt has been in good form with Perth and would add depth to a team in contention. Richmond's Marlion Pickett was the success story of the first mid-season rookie draft in 2019, playing in a premiership in his first game months after being picked up by the Tigers. He remains the only mid-season rookie draft selection to play in a premiership. Hawthorn's Jai Newcombe and Massimo D'Ambrosio, Essendon's Durham, Gold Coast's John Noble, Adelaide's James Peatling, St Kilda's Cooper Sharman, Melbourne's Daniel Turner and this week's rising star nominee, Carlton's Cooper Lord, were drafted through the pre-season draft. Collingwood midfielder Ned Long is the only recycled player – he spent time on Hawthorn's list – to make an impact after finding his way back on a list through the mid-season rookie draft. No ruckman has excelled after being added to a list in the mid-season rookie draft, with most clubs using it to add more talent to develop rather than seeking readymade players. Adelaide's forgotten free agent Adelaide ruckman Reilly O'Brien remains unsigned at the Crows despite his recent patch of excellent form and his availability as an unrestricted free agent. As he approaches 30, O'Brien is in the form of his career after quelling Carlton's Tom De Koning in round eight. He earned two coaches votes as he restricted the restricted free agent's influence at stoppages. De Koning is weighing up a $1.7 million-per-year offer to move to the Saints after receiving an offer of close to $1.1 million from Carlton. Although the Crows have shown interest in Essendon's Sam Draper, he appears more likely to remain at the Bombers after suffering a season-ending Achilles injury in round seven. Collingwood's Darcy Cameron is contracted until the end of 2026, but is hoping to get a bump on his deal after two outstanding seasons that have cemented his importance to the Magpies. Clubs such as West Coast and Carlton – who were dominated by Sydney at clearance last week in the absence of De Koning – are monitoring Cameron in case the ruck merry-go-round accelerates. Adelaide, like the Western Bulldogs who rely heavily on Tim English, scoured the market to add depth to their ruck stocks with their back-ups still developing. English signed a five-year deal last season tying him to the club until 2029 when he will be 32. Richmond unfazed by Tassie threat Richmond have no concerns about having their top seven picks in last year's national draft locked in until 2027 as clubs brace for the generous list concessions expected to accompany Tasmania's entry into the AFL in 2028. Tigers gun Sam Lalor reinforced why he was the first player chosen in last year's draft on Sunday when he bounced back from a below-par performance the previous week to kick two goals and take an impressive pack mark in the goal square at the MCG in a narrow loss to North Melbourne. Clubs now have to wait until after round six to extend a top-20 pick beyond their initial three-year contract because of rules within their CBA which first came into effect for players drafted in the 2023 national draft. Lalor, Josh Smillie, Jonty Faull and Taj Hotton were picked inside the top 20. The Tigers extended their three other picks Luke Trainor (pick 21), Harry Armstrong (pick 23) and Tom Sims (pick 28) a fortnight ago meaning all the club's new entrants are tied for the same time period. Loading Five of the seven Tigers drafted have made their debut and looked comfortable in the AFL. Hotton was recovering from a knee reconstruction when drafted and Smillie has experienced hamstring injuries. Armstrong is also sidelined with a hamstring injury after playing two matches. Only four of the 40 players drafted in the top 20 in 2023 and 2024 have extended their initial standard three-year deal. West Coast's Harley Reid and Hawthorn's Nick Watson, both top-five picks in 2023, are set for huge paydays when they next put pen to paper. The AFL has continued to discuss Tasmania's list concessions, and the new club is expected to seek the freedom to use its suite of early picks how ever it chooses, rather than being made to trade several selections for uncontracted players.
The Age
20-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
While clubs are being cagey about their mid-season draft plans, one Tiger cub looks a certainty
Essendon could have a pick later in the draft than the Giants and Fremantle even if the clubs all have five wins after 11 rounds as the Bombers have a game up their sleeve following the cancellation of their round zero game due to Cyclone Alfred. The Bombers could use four picks in the mid-season rookie draft, but it remains to be seen whether they will use them all. One recruiter also told Money Talks that because the Bombers had multiple picks, rivals were playing their cards tighter to their chest ahead of the draft. Essendon's need for a ruckman is obvious after season-ending injuries to Sam Draper and Nick Bryan left them reliant on veteran Todd Goldstein. While 19-year-old ruckman Zac Harding has impressed, he's viewed as a long-term prospect who is unlikely to fill the immediate needs of any clubs looking to add depth. Harding is playing as a top-aged prospect in the Coates Talent League after training with Carlton's VFL team in pre-season. The Blues gave VFL forward and former Magpie Liam McMahon a trial in the pre-season. The 23-year-old has been in good form, kicking 22 goals in six games to sit second on the 'Frosty' Miller Medal table for leading VFL goalkicker. Former Tigers VFL player Archer May has been performing well for Subiaco in the WAFL. The key forward moved west at the end of last season and represented the WAFL against the SANFL this year. Geelong premiership player Brandan Parfitt has been in good form with Perth and would add depth to a team in contention. Richmond's Marlion Pickett was the success story of the first mid-season rookie draft in 2019, playing in a premiership in his first game months after being picked up by the Tigers. He remains the only mid-season rookie draft selection to play in a premiership. Hawthorn's Jai Newcombe and Massimo D'Ambrosio, Essendon's Durham, Gold Coast's John Noble, Adelaide's James Peatling, St Kilda's Cooper Sharman, Melbourne's Daniel Turner and this week's rising star nominee, Carlton's Cooper Lord, were drafted through the pre-season draft. Collingwood midfielder Ned Long is the only recycled player – he spent time on Hawthorn's list – to make an impact after finding his way back on a list through the mid-season rookie draft. No ruckman has excelled after being added to a list in the mid-season rookie draft, with most clubs using it to add more talent to develop rather than seeking readymade players. Adelaide's forgotten free agent Adelaide ruckman Reilly O'Brien remains unsigned at the Crows despite his recent patch of excellent form and his availability as an unrestricted free agent. As he approaches 30, O'Brien is in the form of his career after quelling Carlton's Tom De Koning in round eight. He earned two coaches votes as he restricted the restricted free agent's influence at stoppages. De Koning is weighing up a $1.7 million-per-year offer to move to the Saints after receiving an offer of close to $1.1 million from Carlton. Although the Crows have shown interest in Essendon's Sam Draper, he appears more likely to remain at the Bombers after suffering a season-ending Achilles injury in round seven. Collingwood's Darcy Cameron is contracted until the end of 2026, but is hoping to get a bump on his deal after two outstanding seasons that have cemented his importance to the Magpies. Clubs such as West Coast and Carlton – who were dominated by Sydney at clearance last week in the absence of De Koning – are monitoring Cameron in case the ruck merry-go-round accelerates. Adelaide, like the Western Bulldogs who rely heavily on Tim English, scoured the market to add depth to their ruck stocks with their back-ups still developing. English signed a five-year deal last season tying him to the club until 2029 when he will be 32. Richmond unfazed by Tassie threat Richmond have no concerns about having their top seven picks in last year's national draft locked in until 2027 as clubs brace for the generous list concessions expected to accompany Tasmania's entry into the AFL in 2028. Tigers gun Sam Lalor reinforced why he was the first player chosen in last year's draft on Sunday when he bounced back from a below-par performance the previous week to kick two goals and take an impressive pack mark in the goal square at the MCG in a narrow loss to North Melbourne. Clubs now have to wait until after round six to extend a top-20 pick beyond their initial three-year contract because of rules within their CBA which first came into effect for players drafted in the 2023 national draft. Lalor, Josh Smillie, Jonty Faull and Taj Hotton were picked inside the top 20. The Tigers extended their three other picks Luke Trainor (pick 21), Harry Armstrong (pick 23) and Tom Sims (pick 28) a fortnight ago meaning all the club's new entrants are tied for the same time period. Loading Five of the seven Tigers drafted have made their debut and looked comfortable in the AFL. Hotton was recovering from a knee reconstruction when drafted and Smillie has experienced hamstring injuries. Armstrong is also sidelined with a hamstring injury after playing two matches. Only four of the 40 players drafted in the top 20 in 2023 and 2024 have extended their initial standard three-year deal. West Coast's Harley Reid and Hawthorn's Nick Watson, both top-five picks in 2023, are set for huge paydays when they next put pen to paper. The AFL has continued to discuss Tasmania's list concessions, and the new club is expected to seek the freedom to use its suite of early picks how ever it chooses, rather than being made to trade several selections for uncontracted players.
ABC News
09-05-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
Essendon star Sam Draper details emotional toll of season-ending Achilles injury
Essendon ruck Sam Draper has detailed the emotional toll of his season-ending Achilles rupture, which he said felt very unfair given his career-best form this year. 'I've had some dark moments the last couple of weeks, but I'm OK,' Draper said on his podcast 200 Plus. 'I was devastated when it happened. I don't reckon I've cried that much in my life for the first few days." Draper went down in Essendon's two-point over West Coast in round six, collapsing on the wing before being helped from the field. Scans then confirmed the club's fears of a tendon rupture, resulting in a long stint on the sidelines given the brutal nature of the injury. The 26-year-old is now two weeks post surgery, which he said 'all went well'. 'Once the dust settled and I had the surgery, I feel a lot better now. But it's a weird one, I can't get stuck into my rehab yet, I have to let it heal, which is a weird feeling," he said. "I'll be fine once I get back into routine again. 'It's been adjusting from being so active to just being on the couch and not being able to put any weight through my foot.' That hardest part to grapple with, Draper said, was that it "just didn't feel fair" given his form and hopes for this year. "(I) worked so hard all off season to get my body right, had a good pre-season, come into the best form of my career and have such high expectations for the year," he said. 'It's my contract year too … It was just a gutting feeling, and seeing the team needing me out there, it is such a hard one to take. 'That's the thing I have been thinking about, 'what could I have done differently? Was I sore?'. But it was completely out of my control that one.' Draper is an unrestricted free agent at the end of this year, with interest from other clubs, notably Adelaide. Given his contract status, there's a possibility Draper has played his final game for Essendon. Following his injury, the Bombers fan-favourite posted to social media that he was blown away by the support but emphasised that it felt unfair. "I truly love playing footy and it's going to hurt so much not being able to do what I love but that brings me so much motivation to be back stronger and better than ever," he posted to Instagram."I'll be back snapping some goals again soon." Essendon general manager of football Daniel McPherson said it was an especially devastating blow for Draper and the club given his start to the season. 'He's worked so hard over the course of the pre-season and had started the season really strongly," McPherson said when the extent of the injury was announced by the club.'Sam's obviously an important player for us but he's also such a beloved member of this group by players, staff and fans alike. We'll support him through his rehab."
