Essendon Bombers AFL 2024 Predictions, Projections and Player Movement

Jeremy Darke

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Last updated: 20 Feb 2024

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Jeremy Darke 20 Feb 2024

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Essendon Bombers predicted to finish 15th in the AFL 2024 season.
Bombers big signing Ben McKay should help fill the void in the backline.
Essendon's midfield will once again be a liability in 2024 and needs improvement.

Ben McKay and Kyle Langford of the Bombers. (Photo by Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos/Getty Images)

Essendon Bombers AFL 2024 Predictions, Projections and Player Movement

Where they finish: 15th in the AFL in 2024

AFL 2024 Team Previews, Predictions & Player Movement: Essendon Bombers
Where they finish: 15th in the AFL in 2024
What’s to like
What’s NOT to like
Essendon Bombers Offseason Player Movement
Essendon Bombers Predicted Round 1 Squad

The Bombers did not look sharp at the end of last season and that has me second guessing their progression this season. They did add a tall at the back, but it just isn’t going to be enough to see them fighting for a spot in the eight this season and are more likely to be in the bottom quarter of the table.

What’s to like

The Bombers recruited well in the offseason with no bigger signing than Ben McKay from North Melbourne which should fill the void that had them conceding the fourth-most points of any team in the AFL last season.

Essendon’s ball movement was one of the highlights of their season last year, when it was working. They ranked fourth in the league in points from their defensive half, linking up with free-flowing play through the middle of the pitch and finding the likes of Kyle Lanford, who kicked53 goals for the Bombers last season.

What’s NOT to like

Essendon finished their season winning just 3 of their final 10 games and looked incredibly flat, conceding 100+ points in four of those matches. As mentioned, the addition of McKay can go a long way to fixing their defensive woes, but it won’t be enough if they don’t get better seasons out of Andrew McGrath and Jayden Laverde.

The Bombers are also vulnerable in the middle and will need to do better winning contested possessions and deliver more quality ball into the forward 50 than they did last season.

Essendon Bombers Offseason Player Movement

IN

Nate Caddy (No.10 draft pick), Xavier Duursma (trade, Port Adelaide), Todd Goldstein (free agent, North Melbourne), Jade Gresham (free agent, St Kilda), Luamon Lual (No.39 draft pick), Ben McKay (free agent, North Melbourne), Archie Roberts (No.54 draft pick), Vigo Visentini (Rookie Draft)

OUT

Massimo D'Ambrosio (trade, Hawthorn), Alastair Lord (delisted), Cian McBride (delisted), Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (retired), Rhett Montgomerie (delisted), Anthony Munkara (delisted), Andrew Phillips (retired), Will Snelling (delisted), James Stewart (delisted), Patrick Voss (delisted), Brandon Zerk-Thatcher (trade, Port Adelaide)

Essendon Bombers Predicted Round 1 Squad

Full Back	Andrew McGrath	Ben McKay	Jayden Laverde
Half Back	Mason Redman	Jordan Ridley	Nic Martin
Centre	Jye Caldwell	Darcy Parish	Xavier Duursma
Half Forward	Jade Gresham	Harrison Jones	Jake Stringer
Full Forward	Archie Perkins	Peter Wright	Kyle Langford
Followers	Sam Draper	Ben Hobbs	Zach Merrett
Interchange	Sam Durham	Will Setterfield	Jye Menzie
	Will Setterfield	Matt Guelfi (sub)