Determined to right the wrongs of their 2023 collapse, Essendon have lifted themselves off the canvas and are up for the fight to keep their season alive. The Bombers snapped a three-game losing run with a gutsy one-point win over Fremantle on Saturday to go within two points of the top eight. Last year's collapse from finals contenders to 11th left a bitter taste in the Bombers' mouths, as did coach Brad Scott's comments last week that his charges had consistently failed pressure tests.
"It did come up during the week and we're just trying to right a few wrongs.
"He's (Scott) been open and honest with us. We've been open and honest as players as well towards each other with the feedback we've given.
"There was some hard truths during the week, but I think that's what we needed and we responded quite well.
"But this has got levels to go."
Those levels include beating Gold Coast at home on Saturday, then ominous clashes with flag fancies Sydney (home) and Brisbane (away).
When asked what made him believe Essendon could snatch a finals spot, Martin responded: "How tight the competition is.
"We saw that over the weekend with the results already.
"So you can't just wave the white flag because there's opportunities and chances every single week."
The Bombers' downhill trend started with an away loss to the Suns, but Martin wasn't dwelling on that defeat. He is instead determined to embrace a "home deck advantage" against a Gold Coast team that hasn't won on the road all season.
The Bombers' midfield has received a lift with Darcy Parish's return from injury to complement skipper Zach Merrett and breakout guns Jye Caldwell and Sam Durham.
"Obviously Jye and Sam especially have been super all year but I don't think we can underestimate the value Darcy brings into our side," Martin said.
"He really complements those two well. He plays a good outside-inside balanced role."
In just his third season, Martin is a crucial part of the Bombers' push.
Martin, 23, has played through the midfield, up forward, off half-back and on the wing - and admits he's not sure what his best position is.
"I'm happy to get thrown around a little bit, that's what I love," he said.
"I've had those chats with Brad about being that sort of player for him who can play anywhere, anytime. So I really like that."
The Bombers have recalled Ben Hobbs for Xavier Duursma (hamstring).
Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick dropped Jack Lukosius, Joel Jeffrey, Brayden Fiorini and Malcolm Rosas, while recalling Jed Walter, Alex Davies, Connor Budarick and Jake Rogers.
Essendon is Fighting for Finals, Gold Coast Aims for First Away Win
Essendon is fighting to keep its finals hopes alive against the home-happy Suns, who are remarkably still yet to win away from home after 21 rounds of football. The Bombers (11-1-8, 95.9%) likely need to win all three remaining games this season to play in September, and they will like their chances at Marvel Stadium tonight. Meanwhile, the travelling Suns (9-11, 100.4%) will have one objective in mind: record their first away win for the season.
The Match Gets Underway at 7:30pm from Marvel Stadium
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Brad Scott made just one forced change at selection, with Ben Hobbs returning to the senior side for the first time since Round 10 in place of Xavier Duursma, whose season could be over after a costly hamstring injury last weekend.
Suns coach Damien Hardwick swung the axe yet again on Thursday night, with Jed Walter, Alex Davies, Connor Budarick and Jake Rogers recalled for the clash. And in one of the competition’s biggest selection statements for the season, Jack Lukosius headlines Gold Coast’s omissions, with Brayden Fiorini, Joel Jeffrey and Malcolm Rosas Jnr also sent back to the reserves.
LIVE MATCH UPDATES
Gold Coast made a late change, excluding Lloyd Johnston, with Sean Lemmens replacing the lively forward. Veteran David Swallow is the substitute.
For Essendon, the returning Hobbs has been named the substitute.
Gold Coast’s Sam Flanders snapped the first goal of the evening.
“Alarm bells already for the Bombers, when you look at the contested possession game — 10-2 in favour of the Suns,” dual premiership player David King told Fox Footy’s broadcast.
After a nervy wait, Jye Menzie kicked Essendon’s first goal of the evening. Nate Caddy added its second major soon after.
Nick Holman snapped a terrific goal from a difficult angle, but the Bombers stayed in touch to trail by a single point at quarter-time.
Matt Rowell has led the way for Gold Coast, notching 10 disposals, nine contested possessions and four clearances by just quarter-time.
“He’s a brute around clearance, we know that ... 60 per cent of his ball comes (at contests),” King noted at quarter-time.
Essendon snagged the first goal of the second quarter via an improbable bouncer from Jye Caldwell.
Ruckman Sam Draper followed that up with “one of the goals of the year”, opening up an 11-point lead for the Dons. It was five goals to three in Essendon’s favour in the second quarter after back-to-back-to-back three-goal swings, with the Bombers taking an 11-point buffer into the main change.
“Now it’s starting to really heat up!” said Fox Footy caller Mark Howard.
The sides kept going goal-for-goal in the third quarter, with a Jed Walter snap getting the Suns within two points. Soon after, the Suns hit the front in concerning signs for the unconvincing Bombers.
After taking a four-point lead into the final change, the Bombers kicked the first goal of the final term through Archie Roberts. However, a skillful Sam Flanders dribbler tied things back up at 81 just over halfway through the final term.
Four Bombers behinds had Brad Scott’s men up by four with four minutes left in the game. Can they hold on?
Jade Gresham looked to have kicked a sealing goal but was adjudged to have pushed the Suns defender in the back! What drama. Under two minutes left.
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