Essendon’s 61-point drubbing by Adelaide on March 22, 2025, at the MCG was ugly. Let’s not sugarcoat it: 161 to 100 is the kind of scoreline that sends fans into a spiral and pundits into overdrive. Coach Brad Scott called the defensive effort “inexecusable,” and the stats—Adelaide’s 392 disposals to Essendon’s 351, 63 inside 50s to 48—back up the embarrassment. It’s the kind of loss that feels like a season-ender, especially just two games into 2025. But hold off on the panic. This defeat, as brutal as it was, isn’t the disaster it seems. Essendon’s got a path forward, and it starts with what’s happening right now—youth development, a long season, and a chance to reset over the next month. Here’s why this isn’t the end of the world.
First, this loss is a snapshot, not the full picture. We’re in Round 2 of a 25-round AFL season. That’s 21 games left—plenty of time to turn things around. Teams have stumbled out of the gate before and still made noise later. Look at Essendon in 2023: a shaky start didn’t stop them from finding rhythm mid-season. Or take St Kilda this year—they got smashed by Adelaide in Round 1, losing by 63 points, only to bounce back and upset Geelong in Round 2. One bad day doesn’t sink a season, especially not in March. Essendon’s current 0-2 record and 16th-place ladder spot sting, but the ladder’s fluid this early. With 92 points still up for grabs, writing them off now is premature. The Bombers just need to steady the ship, and they’ve got the runway to do it.
The bigger story here is Essendon’s strategy, and it’s one that demands patience. They’re not chasing quick fixes—they’re building something lasting. This isn’t a team stacked with veterans gunning for a flag today; it’s a squad betting on youth. They didn’t chase big-name trades in the off-season, instead doubling down on their draftees and young guns. Zach Reid, Archie Roberts, Saad El-Hawli, Nate Caddy, Isaac Kako—these are the names Essendon’s banking on, and they’re green. Reid’s played just nine games in five years, and the others barely cracked five combined last season. Against Adelaide, that inexperience showed. The Crows ran rings around them, exploiting every hesitation. But that’s the point: this loss is a classroom, not a coffin.
Think about it. Reid, pegged as a defensive cornerstone, needs games like this to harden up. Caddy and Kako, still finding their feet in the forward line, got a firsthand lesson in what elite pressure looks like. Essendon’s youngest starting 22 in Round 1 wasn’t an accident—it’s a deliberate choice to grow through pain. Coach Brad Scott, locked in until 2027, knows this. He’s not here to patch holes; he’s here to build a foundation. Sure, the defense leaked 25 goals, and the ball movement was sluggish—Adelaide’s 254 kicks dwarfed Essendon’s 179—but these are fixable flaws for a team still learning. The Bombers aren’t imploding; they’re evolving. And evolution takes time.
Now, let’s talk about what’s next, because the next month could flip the narrative. Essendon’s got four games coming up, and they’re not facing a murderer’s row. Start with March 27: Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium. Port’s no pushover, but Essendon’s home ground advantage at Marvel, where they’ve historically played well, gives them a shot. Then April 12, they’re at Adelaide Oval against Melbourne. Tough? Yes. Winnable? Absolutely—Melbourne’s been inconsistent early, and Essendon’s got the talent to exploit that. April 18 brings West Coast at Optus Stadium. The Eagles are rebuilding too, and if Essendon can sharpen their attack, they could snag a road win. Finally, April 25: the Anzac Day clash with Collingwood at the MCG. It’s a blockbuster, and while Collingwood’s strong, Essendon’s shown they can rise to big occasions.
That’s the immediate horizon—four games, all with potential. Win two, and they’re 2-4, back in the mix. Split them 3-1, and suddenly they’re 3-3, breathing easier. Even 1-3 keeps them alive at 1-5, with softer matchups like North Melbourne looming in May. The point is, this next month isn’t a death sentence—it’s a proving ground. Essendon doesn’t need to dominate; they just need to compete, learn, and snag a couple of results. The Adelaide loss exposed weaknesses—defensive structure, ball use, forward efficiency—but these are problems Scott can address. He’s already signaled a post-game reckoning, and with a week before Port, there’s time to tweak the game plan.
Compare that to teams in real trouble. West Coast and North Melbourne are floundering with no clear direction. Essendon, at least, has a plan: grow the kids, trust the process. Adelaide’s win was clinical, sure—Ben Keays’ four goals, Jordan Dawson’s 33 disposals—but it’s not like they’re invincible. St Kilda proved that. Essendon’s not there yet, but they don’t have to be. They just need to be better than they were last Saturday, and the next four weeks give them that chance.
What’s more, this loss could light a fire. Essendon’s fans are loud, their expectations high. A 61-point margin isn’t just a stat—it’s a wake-up call. Players like Zach Merrett, who kicked four goals and racked up 36 disposals against Adelaide, have the leadership to rally the group. Sam Durham’s 14 contested possessions show there’s grit in this side. They’re not rolling over; they’re reeling, and there’s a difference. If Scott can harness that frustration, the Bombers could come out swinging against Port. One good performance can shift momentum, and momentum’s everything in a season this long.
Let’s not forget the stakes. Essendon’s not chasing a premiership in 2025—they’re chasing progress. A finals berth would be a bonus, but the real goal is development. If Reid turns into a lockdown defender, if Caddy starts converting, if Kako finds his groove, this loss becomes a footnote. The AFL’s a marathon, not a sprint, and Essendon’s pacing themselves. Adelaide caught them flat-footed, but it’s not like the Bombers are broken. They’re bruised, yes—61 points is no picnic—but they’re not buried.
So, yes, the loss looked bad. The stats don’t lie: Adelaide dominated disposals, tackles (60-48), inside 50s. Essendon’s defense was a sieve, their attack disjointed. But disaster? That’s too strong. This is a team in transition, two rounds into a season that’s barely begun. The next month—Port, Melbourne, West Coast, Collingwood—isn’t a gauntlet; it’s an opportunity. Win a couple, grow the kids, fix the flaws, and suddenly that 161-100 scoreline fades into the rearview. Essendon’s not done. They’re just getting started. Time to watch, not wail.
