Winless Bombers Shine Against AFL’s Unbeaten Team

Essendon remains winless in the 2026 AFL season following a Sunday, April 5, clash against the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium. Despite the result, the Bombers recorded a significant second-half turnaround against the league’s only unbeaten team, holding the Bulldogs goalless for one quarter.

The match began with a dominant performance by the Western Bulldogs, who led by 54 points after the first two quarters. Essendon managed only one goal during the first half, facing a potential triple-digit defeat similar to the 91 and 93 point losses they suffered against the same opponent in the previous year.

Second Half Response

The momentum shifted upon the resumption of play in the second half. Tom Edwards, making his first AFL appearance since an ACL rupture a year prior, scored a goal within the first minute of the third quarter after a setup by Kyle Langford.

Essendon’s defensive intensity increased significantly during the third term, where they restricted the Bulldogs to seven behinds and no goals. During this period, the Bombers slotted four goals of their own.

Individual efforts mirrored the team’s shift in intent. Former captain Zach Merrett, who had recorded zero tackles by half-time, finished the match with a game-high seven tackles. The Bombers also improved their ability to clog the Bulldogs’ ball movement and utilized the corridor for counter-attacks.

It’s obviously disappointing to start the way we did, and you wish that you could come out in the first half, the way we did in the second. But when you’re in those situations, you look at guys’ character and see how they respond. I was really proud of the group and how they responded in that second half [because] it would have been easy to succumb to the Bulldogs’ pressure and let them play the way they wanted to.

Andy McGrath, Essendon Captain

Context of the Winless Streak

The loss on April 5 extends a difficult period for the club. Essendon currently sits in the bottom two of the ladder. Earlier in the season, the team suffered heavy losses to Hawthorn by 62 points and Port Adelaide by 63 points, contributing to a winless streak that has reached 15 games.

The struggle for form was evident following the Port Adelaide game on March 23, 2026, where the team held a dismal percentage of 55. At that time, coach Brad Scott described the playing group as demoralised and noted a lack of hardness in defense across the entire ground.

External criticism has also been sharp. Essendon legend and commentator Matthew Lloyd stated on March 23 that the team had been playing without passion or confidence and suggested the performance levels were not meeting AFL standards.

Coach Brad Scott, who took over the role in 2023, has yet to lead the team to a finals appearance. While the second-half effort against the Bulldogs provided a rare ray of light, the team remains without a victory for the 2026 season.