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Sport Nation
The unearthed young guns that have surprised star Bomber
Jaiden Sciberras • June 14th, 2025 4:00 pm
Despite their severe injury crisis, the Bombers have a range of top young talent worth celebrating.
Lining up with the equal youngest team in the competition this season, Essendon has remained competitive with some of the top teams across the AFL, currently sitting just one game out of the top eight with six wins from their first 12 games.
Their Round 14 clash with Geelong will make club history, with mid-season selections Archer May and Lachie Blakiston set to become the ninth and tenth debutants for the season, the most for the club since 1974.
With their injury struggles across the year, coach Brad Scott and the selection committee have been forced to explore the depth of their young list, with a range of young talent suiting up far earlier than the club may have expected.
Having said that, a number of debutants have stood up to the challenge, competing extremely well at the level in attempt to hold their place in the side as senior players return to health.
With the likes of debutants Angus Clarke, Zak Johnson and Isaac Kako landing consistent first- team football, while the likes of Nate Caddy and Archie Roberts continue to star, the Bombers’ young core has been as strong as any.
Speaking on SEN Fireball ahead of the Bombers’ clash with Geelong, Essendon gun Nic Martin expressed his excitement over the current state of the team.
“I’ve seen the growth in young players,” Martin told SEN Fireball.
“For me it’s sort of the players we’ve brought into the football club in my time.
“We’ve had a lot of list changes in Brad (Scott)’s era, and the people and the players they’ve brought in are great people first and foremost.
“They contribute to our culture and what we’re trying to build, but they are also terrific players with a lot of talent.
“We’ve unearthed a few as well due to circumstance that have caught me by surprise with how diligent and how well they’re playing.
“I think of Angus Clarke, who has played three games, he’s a really tough opponent to play on. Zak Johnson (as well), these guys… would we ever have unearthed them if we weren’t in this circumstance with injury? I’m not too sure.
“I think we’ve made really great gains in these sort of things, and it puts pressure on other players who are coming in (to think), ‘I really need to play my role, otherwise these guys are coming in and they are going to replace me’.
“I think we’re in a really good position to continue to develop and learn. These past two weeks against Brisbane and Carlton have showed that.
“We haven’t got the result we were after, but I’m really pleased with the way we’re playing and there’s only upside for us.”
Martin also made special mention of star forward Nate Caddy, expressing his confidence that the young excitement machine is destined to progress to the pinnacle of the AFL.
“He’s an absolute freak that kid,” he continued.
“Some of the stuff he can do, it’s so funny. Watching him in pre-season, he was taking one-handers, jumping on people’s heads, I just thought ‘this kid is incredible’.
“I think to a degree he’s been able to replicate that on an AFL level.
“He’s got a lot to go, a lot of improvement which is scary to be honest, but he’ll be up there (with the best in the competition), really excited for his future.”
The Bombers take on the Cats, with a win keeping the young side within touching distance of the top eight.
