“The great white hope” who Essendon must get the most out of in 2025

As Essendon fans look to next year after another failed season, a defensive void has opened up after the departures of retired duo Jake Kelly and Dyson Heppell.

Former Essendon player Adam Cooney spoke about a defender of the future that Essendon needs to get right moving forward. 

“I think the great white hope in Essendon's backline is that they can get Zach Reid right,” he said on AFL Trade Radio.

“He can play, he's got some talent, but he’s just had so many injuries, if they can get his body right he holds the keys to Essendon’s backline.”

On the opposite side of the field, Essendon’s forward line is struggling as they ranked 13th for points scored in 2024, and Essendon is preparing to play hardball for Jake Stringer and the star forward's contract.

Cooney provided his solution to help motivate and get the most out of Stringer in his future contracts.

“I would heavily incentivize his deal in the first year that triggers a second, Jake is a player that needs that motivation, he’s a Premiership player and knows what it’s like to win a grand final, but some players are motivated by the financial side of things as well," he said.

“I would put a 40+ goal clause in his contract, I would put an All Australian 44 selection In his contract, I would put a top 10 in the best and fairest clause in his contract, and maybe something else, and if he hits two or three out of the four, that triggers the second year.”

Cooney also spoke about Essendon coach Brad Scott, who hasn’t been able to make the most out of developing his players as he is set to enter his third year of coaching.

“It’s a big year for Brad Scott, he’s been at the club long enough, he knows what makes his players tick, so it has to be a career best year for Harrison Jones, it has to be a career best year for Archie Perkins, I think Langford was reasonable but I think he can go to another level, it’s got to be a career best season for Parish,” he said.

Cooney, who played for the Bombers at the end of his career, then went on to speak about Essendon’s draft decisions that have angered their fans.

“If you speak to most Essendon supporters they are frustrated and disgruntled with what has happened," he said.

“Missing a few picks over the journey hurts a little bit, Aaron Francis, Darcy Parish you can probably say that’s not too bad, Andy McGrath in hindsight isn’t the best player in the draft at Pick 1 when they got that in 2016.”

Essendon will hope to have a successful upcoming trade period in order to set them up for a big 2025 season.