By Roy Ward, Danny Russell, Russell Bennett, and Vince Rugari — July 26, 2025
In a night where Essendon’s season reached new lows, one moment stood out: an emotional exchange between Bombers captain Zach Merrett and veteran ruckman Todd Goldstein on the interchange bench during their 93-point drubbing by the Western Bulldogs.
As the Western Bulldogs surged to a dominant 22.11 (143) to 7.8 (50) win at Marvel Stadium, cameras captured a fired-up Merrett expressing his frustration to Goldstein before pacing the boundary in visible distress.
Essendon coach Brad Scott, however, had nothing but praise for his skipper.
“He’s the ultimate competitor. That’s what we want in our group,” Scott told Channel Seven after the match. “He wants to win – and that passion, even in tough moments, is exactly what makes him a great leader.”
Merrett’s Emotional Leadership Amid Bombers Crisis
Despite the blowout, Merrett was again one of the few bright lights for the Bombers, recording 30 disposals under intense pressure. But his emotional reaction on the bench signaled deeper frustrations brewing within the club.
“He’s doing an incredible job leading this team. These moments are tough, but they build resilience,” Scott added. “This has been a brutal season, and we’re asking a lot from our players.”
Essendon Injury Woes Worsen
The loss wasn’t just on the scoreboard. Key defender Jordan Ridley was subbed out with a suspected hamstring strain, adding to a growing injury crisis that has derailed the Bombers’ season.
“He’s got a hamstring strain, almost certainly,” Scott said. “We’ll get the scans, but it’s incredibly frustrating. He’s such a vital part of our team.”
Essendon has now used 13 debutants in 2025 — tied for the most in AFL history — and the toll of soft-tissue injuries has been devastating.
Bulldogs Boost Finals Hopes as Stars Fire
While Essendon faces more questions than answers, the Western Bulldogs reminded the competition of their firepower. Aaron Naughton had a career-best night, kicking seven goals, while young gun Sam Darcy added six majors in the club’s highest score of the season.
Captain Marcus Bontempelli was everywhere with 35 touches and two goals, staking a strong case for another Brownlow vote.
Coach Luke Beveridge said the club’s key-position structure, including Rory Lobb pinch-hitting in the ruck, gave their forwards room to dominate.
“With Naughts and Sam getting stronger match fitness, we could leave them forward longer — and it worked tonight,” Beveridge said.
Can the Bulldogs Fix Their Defensive Fragility?
Still, questions remain about the Dogs’ backline. While they restricted Essendon to just 50 points, upcoming clashes — including a crucial showdown against the GWS Giants — will reveal whether their defensive setup can hold up in finals.
“We’ll know more after next week. The Giants are red-hot and have real firepower,” Beveridge said.
GWS Giants vs Sydney: A Tale of Two Halves
Over in Sydney, the GWS Giants staged one of the comebacks of the year, storming home to crush the Swans by 44 points after trailing by 35 at halftime. The dramatic win not only ended Sydney’s finals hopes but solidified the Giants as a genuine contender.
Led by Toby Greene, Tom Green, and Finn Callaghan, the Giants overwhelmed the Swans with nine goals in a third-quarter blitz. Their resurgence — especially after some bold halftime comments by Greene — has the AFL world taking notice.
“He (Papley) looks overweight,” Greene quipped at halftime after a heated exchange, before his side turned on the afterburners.
Now sitting fifth on the ladder with a 13-6 record, GWS vs Bulldogs next week looms as a blockbuster, with huge finals implications.
Essendon’s Tough Reality
As the Bombers look back on their once-glorious 2000 premiership team, who attended the pre-game, the gulf between past and present couldn’t be starker.
“Real improvement comes through hard times,” Scott said. “We have to stay positive and keep competing.”
With their season officially in ruins, Essendon’s focus now turns to next year — and how to keep players like Merrett inspired for the long rebuild ahead.