2023 Essendon Football Club season

The 2023 Essendon Football Club season was the club's 125th season playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). The club also fielded an AFLW side that competed in the AFLW's 8th Season. Essendon also fielded reserve teams for the AFL and AFLW in the Victorian Football League (VFL) and the VFLW. This was the club's 14th season in the VFL.

Season Summary
It was Essendon's first season coached by Brad Scott who was replacing Ben Rutten who was sacked during the 2022 season. Zach Merrett captained his first season after Dyson Heppell stepped down during the off-season before the 2023 season.

Essendon started the season winning four of their first five games only losing to St Kilda in round 3. The bombers then lost their next four games including a five-goal comeback against Collingwood on Anzac day.

Essendon win the four games just before the bye to put them at 6th place with 8 wins and 5 losses.

The bombers looked like they would make their first finals series since 2021, sitting fifth after their round 17 win against Adelaide. In the last seven rounds the average margin was -44. Essendon lost by margins of 77, 126 and 70 against teams that earlier in the year they either beat or didn't lose to by much. The bombers only won by nine points against North Melbourne and also by one point against West Coast. Essendon's 126 point loss against GWS knocked them out of the finals race.

Pre Season
Essendon defeated Gold Coast by five points in an unofficial match simulation at Austworld Centre Oval. The final score was Gold Coast 11.9 (75) versus Essendon 11.14 (80). The bombers also played an official AFL practice match against St Kilda, and were defeated by 35 points. The final score was St Kilda 10.7 (67) against Essendon 3.14 (32). Essendon's first game in the home & away season was against Hawthorn at the MCG.

Coaching Staff
Brad Scott coached his first season for the bombers after a three-year break from coaching after stepping down from as senior coach of North Melbourne in 2019. Scott would make his coaching record 117-117 after the bombers loss against Collingwood.

Statistics
Updated to the end of the 2023 season

Club Awards
Source:


 * Crichton Medal: Zach Merrett
 * Bruce Heymanson Best Clubman: Andrew McGrath
 * Adam Ramanauskas Most Courageous Player: Mason Redman
 * Matthew Lloyd Leading Goalkicker: Kyle Langford
 * John Kilby Staff and Trainers Award: Andrew McGrath
 * Most-improved Player: Kyle Langford
 * Lindsay Griffiths Rising Star: Alwyn Davey Jnr
 * McCracken Medal: Zach Merrett & Kyle Langford
 * Louis Rowe Seniors Medal: Scott Van Gemert
 * Clifford Denise Wise Community Medal: Ben Milton

League Awards

 * All-Australian: Zach Merrett

Season Summary
Leigh Tudor returned as the senior VFL coach of Essendon before the start of the 2023 VFL season, after a one-year break. Tudor was previously the coach of the VFL bombers in 2021. This was Billy Cootee's first season as captain of the VFL bombers in 2023.

The bombers had a good start to the season, winning two of their first three games. Essendon then lost their next nine games. The bombers responded to losing nine games in a row by knocking off first place, Gold Coast, giving the suns their second loss of the season. The bombers then beat Geelong after their third bye. The bombers lost their next three games after that, then beating Coburg in the last round.

Season Summary
Natalie Wood continued to coach Essendon's AFLW team in season 8. Steph Cain & Bonnie Toogood also continues to captain the bombers AFLW side in season 8.

The Bombers struggled to get consecutive wins throughout the season only getting consecutive wins twice during the season. Despite them not struggling to get consecutive wins they finished 7th place and played in an elimination final against Geelong which they couldn't win.

Pre Season
Essendon played their pre season match against West Coast. The bombers lost by nine points in a tight contest. The final score was West Coast 6.7 (43) to Essendon 5.4 (34) at Mineral Resources Park.

Coaching Staff
Former Geelong VFLW coach Natalie Wood coached her second season for Essendon's AFLW. The bombers have five other AFLW coaches coaching with Natalie Wood.

Statistics
Updated to the end of the Season 8 (2023)

Season Summary
Former Collingwood player Travis Cloke was appointed senior coach of Essendon's VFLW side in November 2022. Cloke coached with four other coaches. Georgia Nanscawen captained her second season for the bombers VFLW side. Courtney Ugle was the vice captain of Essendon's VFLW team. Kendra Heil, Mia-Rae Clifford and Eloise Ashley Cooper were all also part of Essendon's leadership group in 2023. Essendon were coming off a their first VFLW premiership in the season prior to the 2023 VFLW season.

The bombers started their sixth VFLW season with a draw against Box Hill. Essendon kicked four goals to Box Hill's three goals. The bombers then lost their next two games against the Southern Saints and Carlton. Essendon then won their next five games from rounds four to eight.

In the last round of the season Essendon needed a win to make the finals. The bombers defeated the Western Bulldogs in the last round to make the finals. The final score was 6.5 (41) to 4.4 (28).

In the first round of finals the bombers defeated Box Hill by 10 points. Their 10-point win against the hawks put them into the semi finals against Collingwood which they lost to by four points. The bombers loss to Collingwood put them into the Preliminary Final against Port Melbourne. Essendon lost by five goals against the Boroughs eliminating them from the 2023 VFLW season.

Coaching Staff
Retired Collingwood and Western Bulldogs player Travis Cloke was appointed senior coach of the bombers VFLW team. Cloke coached with four other coaches including former AFLW player Kirby Bentley.

Awards

 * Best and Fairest: Sophie Molan
 * Leading Goal Kicker: Mia Rae-Clifford (14 Goals)