![\"Marc](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1fd9e8feb443a3c0e7ff1305e00989af6ff0ed64.png\")
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August 23, 2026 \u2014 4:56pm<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n Nate Caddy\u2019s vigorous celebration after his sixth goal early in the fourth quarter at Marvel Stadium on Sunday belied the dead-rubber circumstances between two bottom-four also-rans.<\/p>\n The bleached-blond key forward, who extended his contract last month until the end of 2031, is one of Essendon\u2019s rays of hope as they prepare for another fresh start. They will have a new coach within days, who may be their 11th in the hot seat (if it is not James Hird) since the legendary Kevin Sheedy era ended in 2007.<\/p>\n Caddy\u2019s goal \u2013 his 46th in a promising individual campaign \u2013 kicked the Bombers 14 points clear at the five-minute mark, and within reach of a third win in an extremely difficult season.<\/p>\n But Essendon couldn\u2019t hang on, even after ex-skipper Zach Merrett drew a huge roar out of the nearly 30,000 fans who turned up by steering through a set shot to snatch the lead with two minutes to go.<\/p>\n That advantage lasted fewer than 50 seconds, and the Bombers eventually lost to Port Adelaide by 10 points \u2013 but it was probably a good thing, since it means they retained the No.1 pick in November\u2019s AFL draft.<\/p>\n Interim coach Dean Solomon insisted post-match that he felt things were shifting in the right direction.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s really hard to say that because we finish 18th, and that\u2019s the hard sell. But people know their footy, and they can see where we\u2019re heading, and some of this youth,\u201d Solomon said.<\/p>\n \u201cAs we get more experience into them, they\u2019ll become more polished [and] more composed under pressure and deliver at a high level, so it\u2019s quite exciting, but albeit very hard at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n North Melbourne beat Gold Coast in the final round three years ago, costing them access to Harley Reid.<\/p>\n There is no Reid-like prospect available this year, given Dougie Cochrane (Port Adelaide) and Cody Walker (Carlton) are attached elsewhere, but Essendon will have the pick of the rest of the litter. Those players include Arki Butler, Harry Van Hattum, Gus Teixeira and Ethan Drever.<\/p>\n This is the Bombers\u2019 first wooden spoon since the infamous 2016 season when they had to cobble together a list after 34 past and present players were suspended as part of the drugs saga.<\/p>\n That patchwork group won one more match than their 2026 peers, illustrating how much the Bombers have battled.<\/p>\n Related Article Now, it is decision time: the coach first, then whether to trade Merrett and injury-riddled defender Jordan Ridley, as well as what to do with top-10 draftees Elijah Tsatas, Archie Perkins and Nik Cox.<\/p>\n Only Perkins played of that trio on Sunday, and he, too, gave Essendon a brief edge with a set-shot goal in the fourth quarter, but again looked uncertain with the Sherrin at times. Tsatas was an emergency, while Cox \u2013 playing again after a concussion battle \u2013 made more VFL appearances (10) than in the AFL (eight) this year.<\/p>\n There doesn\u2019t appear to be much external interest in Darcy Parish, but he could be one to watch.<\/p>\n Damien Hardwick famously declared that 80 per cent of Gold Coast\u2019s first premiership team was already on the Suns\u2019 list when he took over as coach in 2023.<\/p>\n Three years later, Hardwick would struggle to be so bullish, particularly with Ben King poised to announce he wants to play for Hawthorn. But whatever figure Hardwick might come up with now would still dwarf what Essendon\u2019s next coach could confidently predict.<\/p>\n Solomon could not, and would not, offer such a percentage for the Dons on Sunday.<\/p>\n Merrett, sporting a bruised right eye from a knock last week, won disposals at will in what was almost certainly his final game for the Bombers before he tries again to convince them to trade him to the Hawks.<\/p>\n Solomon wants Merrett to think about how Trent Cotchin stuck fat at Richmond and was rewarded with three premierships. But Cotchin was 27 when the Tigers\u2019 won the 2017 flag, whereas Merrett turns 31 in October.<\/p>\n Related Article Asked if he could understand why Merrett might want to leave, Solomon said: \u201cWe don\u2019t know his decision, so I don\u2019t know the answer \u2026 he might turn around on Tuesday, Wednesday, and say, \u2018I want to stay\u2019, and we hope that\u2019s the case.\u201d<\/p>\n Merrett\u2019s successor as captain, Andy McGrath, played his 200th game against the Power.<\/p>\n![\"Sheer](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/247049310eb9f8d831638086024b0030ae34af10.jpeg\")
Sheer joy: Essendon\u2019s Nate Caddy after one of his goals.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/f71f4e6f1cce2850e957ef5374e5761af7166e53.jpeg\")
A moment of joy: What could have been for Essendon on Sunday …Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Mark](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/4b57f366185c399a6223d06b9f52095955242a98.jpeg\")
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