Don The Stat
Don the Stat is a weekly podcast covering the Essendon Football Club. Former Essendon Football Club analyst Jonathan Walsh is joined by fellow Essendon fan Ian Hume to break down the previous weeks game and preview the tactics of the next match. We focus on a more analytical approach that considers the statistics and match day tactics that will impact each game.
Visit donthestat.com for the official home of Don The Stat.
Listen on:
Episodes
Friday Mar 06, 2026
Friday Mar 06, 2026
Essendon’s 2026 season is almost here.
With Round 1 against Hawthorn just 8 days away, Jono and Humey return for the annual Don The Stat Season Preview. Breaking down everything Bombers fans need to know heading into the new AFL season.
After a brutal 2025 that saw 15 debutants and a 13-game losing streak, the big question is whether the young Bombers can take a step forward in 2026.
In this episode we analyse:
What the practice matches revealed
The key statistical trends that shaped Essendon’s 2025 season
Which metrics will matter most in 2026
List changes and emerging young talent
The biggest strengths and weaknesses of the squad
A full SWOT analysis of the Bombers
Our three bold predictions for the season ahead
Plus:
Another Damian Barrett Lifetime Achievement Award nomination
Discussion around Essendon’s midfield, intercept game and turnover defence
Which players have surged into Round 1 contention
If Essendon is going to improve in 2026, the answers will likely come from territory, turnovers and transition football.
We break down exactly what to watch for.
_____
Watch 'The Moment that Mattered' and listen to our Post Match First Thoughts exclusively on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/donthestat
Don The Stat Website: https://www.donthestat.com/
Follow Us on Twitter and Bluesky:
Jono at twitter.com/JonathanJWalsh / https://bsky.app/profile/jonathanjwalsh.bsky.social
Ian at twitter.com/Kyptastic1 / https://bsky.app/profile/kyptastic.bsky.social
Don The Stat Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/donthestat
Follow Don The Stat on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/donthestat?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
Friday Mar 06, 2026
Friday Mar 06, 2026
We are officially 7 days out from Essendon’s Round 1 clash with Hawthorn, under lights at the MCG on March 13 and between now and then, we’re doing something a little bit different.Leading into the 2025 Season, we counted down our Top 100 Essendon players since 1980.In 2026, we’re kicking off a daily countdown to Round 1, 2026 but instead of just ticking off days on a calendar, we’re counting them down through Essendon’s guernsey numbers.
Who wore it first.Who wore it most.Which Premiership players pulled it on.Brownlow winners, club legends, cult heroes, and sometimes the obscure one-gamer that still forms part of the story.
By the time we get to Number 1, we’ll be on the eve of Round 1 — and we’ll have walked through more than a century of Essendon history, one jumper at a time.
We’ll be back tomorrow for Day 6 and Guernsey Number 6.
_______________________
Links:
Don The Stat Website | The Official Home of Don The Stat Don The Stat Patreon
Don The Stat on Facebook
Don The Stat on Instagram
Follow Us on X / Twitter
Jono / Ian
Thursday Mar 05, 2026
Thursday Mar 05, 2026
Essendon’s 2026 season is almost here.
With Round 1 against Hawthorn just 8 days away, Jono and Humey return for the annual Don The Stat Season Preview. Breaking down everything Bombers fans need to know heading into the new AFL season.
After a brutal 2025 that saw 15 debutants and a 13-game losing streak, the big question is whether the young Bombers can take a step forward in 2026.
In this episode we analyse:
What the practice matches revealed
The key statistical trends that shaped Essendon’s 2025 season
Which metrics will matter most in 2026
List changes and emerging young talent
The biggest strengths and weaknesses of the squad
A full SWOT analysis of the Bombers
Our three bold predictions for the season ahead
Plus:
Another Damian Barrett Lifetime Achievement Award nomination
Discussion around Essendon’s midfield, intercept game and turnover defence
Which players have surged into Round 1 contention
If Essendon is going to improve in 2026, the answers will likely come from territory, turnovers and transition football.
We break down exactly what to watch for.
_____
Watch 'The Moment that Mattered' and listen to our Post Match First Thoughts exclusively on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/donthestat
Don The Stat Website: https://www.donthestat.com/
Follow Us on Twitter and Bluesky:
Jono at twitter.com/JonathanJWalsh / https://bsky.app/profile/jonathanjwalsh.bsky.social
Ian at twitter.com/Kyptastic1 / https://bsky.app/profile/kyptastic.bsky.social
Don The Stat Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/donthestat
Follow Don The Stat on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/donthestat?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
Thursday Mar 05, 2026
Thursday Mar 05, 2026
We are officially 8 days out from Essendon’s Round 1 clash with Hawthorn, under lights at the MCG on March 13 and between now and then, we’re doing something a little bit different.Leading into the 2025 Season, we counted down our Top 100 Essendon players since 1980.In 2026, we’re kicking off a daily countdown to Round 1, 2026 but instead of just ticking off days on a calendar, we’re counting them down through Essendon’s guernsey numbers.
Who wore it first.Who wore it most.Which Premiership players pulled it on.Brownlow winners, club legends, cult heroes, and sometimes the obscure one-gamer that still forms part of the story.
By the time we get to Number 1, we’ll be on the eve of Round 1 — and we’ll have walked through more than a century of Essendon history, one jumper at a time.
Guernsey Number 8 a jumper that has been worn by Premiership players, prolific goal-kickers, and some of the club’s most durable performers.
We’ll be back tomorrow for Day 7 and Guernsey Number 7.
_______________________
Links:
Don The Stat Website | The Official Home of Don The Stat Don The Stat Patreon
Don The Stat on Facebook
Don The Stat on Instagram
Follow Us on X / Twitter
Jono / Ian
Wednesday Mar 04, 2026
Wednesday Mar 04, 2026
We are officially 9 days out from Essendon’s Round 1 clash with Hawthorn, under lights at the MCG on March 13 and between now and then, we’re doing something a little bit different.Leading into the 2025 Season, we counted down our Top 100 Essendon players since 1980.In 2026, we’re kicking off a daily countdown to Round 1, 2026 but instead of just ticking off days on a calendar, we’re counting them down through Essendon’s guernsey numbers.
Who wore it first.Who wore it most.Which Premiership players pulled it on.Brownlow winners, club legends, cult heroes, and sometimes the obscure one-gamer that still forms part of the story.
By the time we get to Number 1, we’ll be on the eve of Round 1 — and we’ll have walked through more than a century of Essendon history, one jumper at a time.
We’ll be back tomorrow for Day 8 and Guernsey Number 8.
_______________________
Links:
Don The Stat Website | The Official Home of Don The Stat Don The Stat Patreon
Don The Stat on Facebook
Don The Stat on Instagram
Follow Us on X / Twitter
Jono / Ian
Tuesday Mar 03, 2026
Tuesday Mar 03, 2026
We are officially 10 days out from Essendon’s Round 1 clash with Hawthorn, under lights at the MCG on March 13 and between now and then, we’re doing something a little bit different.Leading into the 2025 Season, we counted down our Top 100 Essendon players since 1980.In 2026, we’re kicking off a daily countdown to Round 1, 2026 but instead of just ticking off days on a calendar, we’re counting them down through Essendon’s guernsey numbers.
Who wore it first.Who wore it most.Which Premiership players pulled it on.Brownlow winners, club legends, cult heroes, and sometimes the obscure one-gamer that still forms part of the story.
By the time we get to Number 1, we’ll be on the eve of Round 1 — and we’ll have walked through more than a century of Essendon history, one jumper at a time.
Guernsey Number 10 stands as one of the most powerful symbols in Essendon history.
We’ll be back tomorrow for Day 9 and Guernsey Number 9.
_______________________
Links:
Don The Stat Website | The Official Home of Don The Stat Don The Stat Patreon
Don The Stat on Facebook
Don The Stat on Instagram
Follow Us on X / Twitter
Jono / Ian
Monday Mar 02, 2026
Monday Mar 02, 2026
We are officially 11 days out from Essendon’s Round 1 clash with Hawthorn, under lights at the MCG on March 13 and between now and then, we’re doing something a little bit different.Leading into the 2025 Season, we counted down our Top 100 Essendon players since 1980.In 2026, we’re kicking off a daily countdown to Round 1, 2026 but instead of just ticking off days on a calendar, we’re counting them down through Essendon’s guernsey numbers.
Who wore it first.Who wore it most.Which Premiership players pulled it on.Brownlow winners, club legends, cult heroes, and sometimes the obscure one-gamer that still forms part of the story.
By the time we get to Number 1, we’ll be on the eve of Round 1 — and we’ll have walked through more than a century of Essendon history, one jumper at a time.
We’ll be back tomorrow for Day 10 and Guernsey Number 10.
_______________________
Links:
Don The Stat Website | The Official Home of Don The Stat Don The Stat Patreon
Don The Stat on Facebook
Don The Stat on Instagram
Follow Us on X / Twitter
Jono / Ian
Sunday Mar 01, 2026
Sunday Mar 01, 2026
Our unbeaten pre-season run is over.
In our final hit-out before Round 1, Essendon went down to St Kilda in Ballarat and this one gave us a much clearer picture of where the side is really at.
Normally, First Thoughts is exclusive to our Patreon community. But as promised for pre-season, we’re releasing this one publicly.
In this episode we cover:
❌ The Concerns
A passive midfield beaten at centre bounce (9–18 clearances)
Poor use of the spare at stoppage
Zach Merrett behind the ball – lesson learned?
An eight-minute third-quarter lapse that broke the game open
✅ The Positives
Aggressive forward-half press returns (six forward-half turnovers in the first half)
Dyson Sharp’s composure, strength and score involvements
Lachie Blackiston’s competitiveness against Marshall & De Koning
Zach Johnson’s most complete game yet
Signs the structure is holding up - outside of one costly burst
The margin ended up seven goals, but the game was within seven points late in the third quarter before St Kilda capitalised on centre bounce dominance and 6-6-6 momentum.
Plenty to tidy up. Plenty to like.
We break it down. High level, immediate reaction, no overreactions.
Full review and season preview coming Thursday.
Sunday Mar 01, 2026
Sunday Mar 01, 2026
We are officially 12 days out from Essendon’s Round 1 clash with Hawthorn, under lights at the MCG on March 13 and between now and then, we’re doing something a little bit different.Leading into the 2025 Season, we counted down our Top 100 Essendon players since 1980.In 2026, we’re kicking off a daily countdown to Round 1, 2026 but instead of just ticking off days on a calendar, we’re counting them down through Essendon’s guernsey numbers.
Who wore it first.Who wore it most.Which Premiership players pulled it on.Brownlow winners, club legends, cult heroes, and sometimes the obscure one-gamer that still forms part of the story.
By the time we get to Number 1, we’ll be on the eve of Round 1 — and we’ll have walked through more than a century of Essendon history, one jumper at a time.
Guernsey Number 12 reflects Essendon’s blend of Premiership success, leadership, and enduring contribution to the club’s culture.
We’ll be back tomorrow for Day 11 and Guernsey Number 11.
_______________________
Links:
Don The Stat Website | The Official Home of Don The Stat Don The Stat Patreon
Don The Stat on Facebook
Don The Stat on Instagram
Follow Us on X / Twitter
Jono / Ian
Saturday Feb 28, 2026
Saturday Feb 28, 2026
We are officially 13 days out from Essendon’s Round 1 clash with Hawthorn, under lights at the MCG on March 13 and between now and then, we’re doing something a little bit different.Leading into the 2025 Season, we counted down our Top 100 Essendon players since 1980.In 2026, we’re kicking off a daily countdown to Round 1, 2026 but instead of just ticking off days on a calendar, we’re counting them down through Essendon’s guernsey numbers.
Who wore it first.Who wore it most.Which Premiership players pulled it on.Brownlow winners, club legends, cult heroes, and sometimes the obscure one-gamer that still forms part of the story.
By the time we get to Number 1, we’ll be on the eve of Round 1 — and we’ll have walked through more than a century of Essendon history, one jumper at a time.
We’ll be back tomorrow for Day 12 and Guernsey Number 12.
_______________________
Links:
Don The Stat Website | The Official Home of Don The Stat Don The Stat Patreon
Don The Stat on Facebook
Don The Stat on Instagram
Follow Us on X / Twitter
Jono / Ian
