Unraveling the Chaos: A Deep Dive into Essendon’s Turbulent Year Amidst a Mysterious Injury Crisis

On Wednesday morning, Essendon coach Brad Scott expressed his enthusiasm about the return of promising young defender Zach Reid.

Scott mentioned that, had it not been for the bye in round 16, Reid’s chances of returning would have been uncertain. However, after an additional week, he has now been “medically cleared to play”.

A few hours later, fans were dismayed as Reid was on his way for scans due to a hamstring issue, prompting yet another collective sigh of frustration from Bombers supporters nationwide.

To date, Essendon has fielded 40 of its 47 listed players over the course of the season. This marks the first time since 2015 that the club has utilised this many players, and with several months still remaining in the season, it’s a concerning statistic.

In comparison, Geelong has managed to use just 30 players, while Adelaide has fielded 31 and Collingwood 32. No other clubs have approached the 40-player mark, with Carlton standing at 39, St Kilda at 37, and both Richmond and GWS at 36.

There’s an undeniable correlation between consistent player health and success throughout the season; this is hardly a revelation.

The Bombers have struggled with recurring injuries, presenting yet another facet of their difficult year. Key players such as Reid (hamstring), Kyle Langford (quad), Darcy Parish (calf), and Jordan Ridley (soft tissue) have all battled to maintain consistent form this season, and all rank highly in terms of their structural importance to the team.

Adding to the frustration at Tullamarine, both Langford and Parish encountered new setbacks during the bye week.

A significant issue has been the losses of key position players, many facing lengthy absences due to injuries.

This season has seen the Bombers lose their top two ruckmen, Sam Draper (torn Achilles) and Nick Bryan (torn ACL). Additionally, prized defensive recruit Ben McKay has not played since May due to a ruptured plantar plate in his foot, and his condition remains “TBC” on the injury list.

Young players Lewis Hayes and Thomas Edwards have also suffered torn ACLs, a massive blow for both who were poised for more opportunities amidst the injury crisis.

Meanwhile, forward/wingman Harrison Jones encountered a terrible stroke of bad luck, suffering a fractured ankle during a match.

The situation surrounding Nik Cox is also precarious as the versatile player awaits a decision from the AFL’s concussion panel. Like Jeremy McGovern and Angus Brayshaw before him, Cox may find that his career is at risk at the age of just 23.

While 2025 might not have seen Essendon regarded as title contenders, it’s noteworthy that they were on equal points with the teams in the top eight after round 11.

Nevertheless, no team can emerge unscathed from a combination of long-term and recurring injuries as the Bombers have faced this season.

The pressing question is how much accountability rests with the club—be it the strength and conditioning team, training loads, pre-season preparations, or recovery. There are numerous facets to consider before concluding that this has simply been a year plagued by misfortune.

Carlton experienced a similar series of injury problems in 2023 and 2024, ultimately resulting in the departure of respected high-performance director Andrew Russell.

Simultaneously, the club moved on several players widely regarded as injury-prone.

The outcome? At present, the Bombers have 14 players listed as injured, while Carlton has managed to maintain around 10 on their injury list all season—a concerning figure following such considerable changes.

It remains uncertain if Essendon will implement similar changes, but Coach Brad Scott stated the club is keen to thoroughly investigate the root causes of their injury woes.

“As is customary across clubs, we will undertake a comprehensive investigation into what’s going on,” Scott informed reporters on Wednesday.

“While I used the term ‘investigation’, I want to clarify that we’re continually assessing our situation. We look into injuries, the way we play, and our processes. Each injury prompts us to examine its causes.

“Nick Bryan sustained his ACL tear in a ruck contest at the Adelaide Oval, on an ideal playing surface, in what seemed to be an innocuous incident. This calls for a thorough investigation into the mechanisms behind the injury and the circumstances surrounding it.

“We maintain this inquiry on an ongoing basis. The concern lies with players like Darcy Parish, who has suffered a recurrence of his calf injury, and Kyle Langford, whose quad issue has come back. Although the scans show relatively minor results, the recurring nature elevates the concern.

Former West Coast coach Adam Simpson is no stranger to injury-plagued seasons.

His club required 40 different players throughout 2023 and 2024, and a staggering 47 players in 2022, as they grappled with the fallout of COVID impacts.

“Essendon’s injury predicament has reached a point of genuine concern. We experienced similar challenges at West Coast, constantly struggling to understand the underlying causes—whether the training surface was at fault, if we were training too hard or not hard enough, or if pre-season practices contributed to the situation,” Simpson disclosed to SEN on Thursday.

“Internally, the questions will not be controversial; rather, they’ll focus on what can be done and reflect on how to audit the current situation.

“Getting out of this phase is especially challenging around this time of year. You might regain two players only to lose another two, leaving you constantly running in circles. As injuries pile up, you’ll eventually reach a stage where adjustments in training become necessary.

“With reduced numbers on the training track, it’s impossible to conduct a full 18-vs-18 session. Instead, senior players may end up scrimmaging against reserves players, which complicates efforts to build form.”

As the season concludes, all eyes will be on Essendon to see what measures they take to address the problems that have arisen this year.

Many of these injuries are likely to have lingering effects into 2026, meaning the repercussions of this difficult season will be felt even further down the track.

Supporters will need to remain patient and hope the club can address the factors contributing to these injuries, as a touch of good fortune would certainly be welcomed.