2017 Essendon Football Club season

Essendon Football Club
2017 season
President	Lindsay Tanner
Coach	John Worsfold
Captain(s)	Dyson Heppell
Home ground	Etihad Stadium
AFL season	7th
Finals series	8th
W. S. Crichton Medal	Joe Daniher
Leading goalkicker	Joe Daniher (65)
← 2016	2018 →

The 2017 Essendon Football Club season is Essendon's 119th season in the Australian Football League.

Squad

Essendon Football Club
Senior list						Rookie list		Coaching staff
1 Andrew McGrath 2 Tom Bellchambers 3 Darcy Parish 4 Jobe Watson 5 Brent Stanton 6 Joe Daniher 7 Zach Merrett (vc) 8 Martin Gleeson 9 Brendon Goddard 10 Aaron Francis 11 David Zaharakis 12 Mark Baguley 13 Orazio Fantasia 14 Jordan Ridley 15 Josh Green 16 Josh Begley 17 James Stewart 18 Michael Hurley 19 Kobe Mutch 20 Jackson Merrett		21 Dyson Heppell (c) 22 Matthew Leuenberger 23 David Myers 24 Craig Bird 25 Alex Morgan 26 Cale Hooker (vc) 27 Mason Redman 28 Mitch Brown 29 Patrick Ambrose 30 Kyle Langford 32 Travis Colyer 33 Jayden Laverde 36 Michael Hartley 37 Dylan Clarke 39 Heath Hocking 40 Ben Howlett 43 Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti 45 Conor McKenna 47 James Kelly 49 Matt Dea				34 Jake Long 38 Sam Draper 41 Ben McNiece (B) 44 Shaun McKernan		Head coach John Worsfold Assistant coaches Mark Neeld (general performance manager) Hayden Skipworth (forwards) Mark Harvey (defence) Guy McKenna (midfield) Mark Corrigan (development coach) Dan Jordan (development coach) Paul Corrigan (VFL coach) Rob Harding (opposition strategy and game intelligence) Legend: (c) Captain(s) (vc) Vice-captain(s) Long-term injury list Upgraded rookie(s) (B) Category B rookie Updated: 22 June 2017 Source(s): Playing list, Coaching staff

Season summary

Pre-season

Week	Date and local time	Opponent	Home	Away	Margin	Venue	Attendance	Ref.
Week	Date and local time	Opponent	Scores (Essendon's scores indicated in bold)			Venue	Attendance	Ref.
1	Thursday, 16 February (7:40 pm)	Collingwood	2.13.9 (105)	0.14.10 (94)	Lost by 11 points	Etihad Stadium (A)	16,521	^[1]
2	Sunday, 26 February (3:40 pm)	Gold Coast	0.12.7 (79)	0.12.4 (76)	Lost by 3 points	Harrup Park Country Club (A)	3,893	^[2]
3	Sunday, 12 March (4:10 pm)	Geelong	1.17.11 (122)	2.12.10 (100)	Lost by 22 points	Queen Elizabeth Oval (A)	8,391	^[3]

Home and Away season

Round	Date and local time	Opponent	Home	Away	Margin	Venue	Attendance	Ref.
Round	Date and local time	Opponent	Scores (Essendon's scores indicated in bold)			Venue	Attendance	Ref.
1	Saturday, 25 March (7:25 pm)	Hawthorn	17.14 (116)	12.19 (91)	Won by 25 points	MCG (H)	78,294	^[4]
2	Saturday, 1 April (6:25 pm)	Brisbane Lions	12.12 (84)	17.9 (111)	Won by 27 points	Gabba (A)	21,749	^[5]
3	Sunday, 9 April (3:20 pm)	Carlton	7.15 (57)	6.6 (42)	Lost by 15 points	MCG (A)	48,022	^[6]
4	Saturday, 15 April (7:10 pm)	Adelaide	24.9 (153)	13.10 (88)	Lost by 65 points	Adelaide Oval (A)	47,492	^[7]
5	Tuesday, 25 April (3:20 pm)	Collingwood	15.10 (100)	11.16 (82)	Won by 18 points	MCG (H)	87,685	^[8]
6	Sunday, 30 April (1:10 pm)	Melbourne	10.14 (74)	17.10 (112)	Lost by 38 points	Etihad Stadium (H)	44,040	^[9]
7	Sunday, 7 May (2:40 pm)	Fremantle	17.14 (116)	11.13 (79)	Lost by 37 points	Domain Stadium (A)	33,393	^[10]
8	Saturday, 13 May (7:25 pm)	Geelong	17.8 (110)	13.15 (93)	Won by 17 points	MCG (H)	57,172	^[11]
9	Sunday, 21 May (1:10 pm)	West Coast	19.11 (125)	8.16 (64)	Won by 61 points	Etihad Stadium (H)	36,403	^[12]
10	Saturday, 27 May (7:25 pm)	Richmond	11.15 (81)	10.6 (66)	Lost by 15 points	MCG (A)	85,656	^[13]
11	Saturday, 3 June (4:35 pm)	Greater Western Sydney	18.9 (117)	15.11 (101)	Lost by 16 points	Spotless Stadium (A)	13,671	^[14]
12	Saturday, 10 June (7:25 pm)	Port Adelaide	19.17 (131)	8.13 (61)	Won by 70 points	Etihad Stadium (H)	34,022	^[15]
13	Bye
14	Friday, 23 June (7:50 pm)	Sydney	11.20 (86)	12.13 (85)	Lost by 1 point	SCG (A)	34,575	^[16]
15	Sunday, 2 July (1:10 pm)	Brisbane Lions	11.16 (82)	13.12 (90)	Lost by 8 points	Etihad Stadium (H)	41,246	^[17]
16	Saturday, 8 July (2:10 pm)	Collingwood	12.8 (80)	18.9 (117)	Won by 37 points	MCG (A)	63,537	^[18]
17	Friday, 14 July (7:50 pm)	St Kilda	7.15 (57)	17.16 (118)	Won by 61 points	Etihad Stadium (A)	47,156	^[19]
18	Saturday, 22 July (1:45 pm)	North Melbourne	20.12 (132)	16.9 (105)	Won by 27 points	Etihad Stadium (H)	40,359	^[20]
19	Sunday, 30 July (1:10 pm)	Western Bulldogs	19.13 (127)	13.19 (97)	Lost by 30 points	Etihad Stadium (A)	48,754	^[21]
20	Saturday, 5 August (2:10 pm)	Carlton	11.18 (84)	11.10 (76)	Won by 8 points	MCG (H)	58,562	^[22]
21	Saturday, 12 August (7:25 pm)	Adelaide	12.8 (80)	18.15 (123)	Lost by 43 points	Etihad Stadium (H)	38,487	^[23]
22	Saturday, 19 August (7:25 pm)	Gold Coast	9.3 (57)	12.18 (90)	Won by 33 points	Metricon Stadium (A)	16,817	^[24]
23	Sunday, 27 August (1:10 pm)	Fremantle	16.11 (107)	14.8 (92)	Won by 15 points	Etihad Stadium (H)	42,665	^[25]

Finals

Round	Date and local time	Opponent	Home	Away	Margin	Venue	Attendance	Ref.
Round	Date and local time	Opponent	Scores (Essendon's scores indicated in bold)			Venue	Attendance	Ref.
EF2	Saturday, 9 September (4:20 pm)	Sydney	19.7 (121)	8.8 (56)	Lost by 65 points	SCG	46,323	^[26]

Ladder

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	L	D	PF	PA	PP	Pts	Qualification
1	Adelaide	22	15	6	1	2415	1776	136.0	62	2017 finals
2	Geelong	22	15	6	1	2134	1818	117.4	62
3	Richmond (P)	22	15	7	0	1992	1684	118.3	60
4	Greater Western Sydney	22	14	6	2	2081	1812	114.8	60
5	Port Adelaide	22	14	8	0	2168	1671	129.7	56
6	Sydney	22	14	8	0	2093	1651	126.8	56
7	Essendon	22	12	10	0	2135	2004	106.5	48
8	West Coast	22	12	10	0	1964	1858	105.7	48
9	Melbourne	22	12	10	0	2035	1934	105.2	48
10	Western Bulldogs	22	11	11	0	1857	1913	97.1	44
11	St Kilda	22	11	11	0	1925	1986	96.9	44
12	Hawthorn	22	10	11	1	1864	2055	90.7	42
13	Collingwood	22	9	12	1	1944	1963	99.0	38
14	Fremantle	22	8	14	0	1607	2160	74.4	32
15	North Melbourne	22	6	16	0	1983	2264	87.6	24
16	Carlton	22	6	16	0	1594	2038	78.2	24
17	Gold Coast	22	6	16	0	1756	2311	76.0	24
18	Brisbane Lions	22	5	17	0	1877	2526	74.3	20

Source: AFL
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers

References

^ Twomey, Callum (16 February 2017). "Match report: Pies' late show spoils returning Dons' night". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 16 February 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
^ Whiting, Michael (26 February 2017). "Match report: Young Suns shine in win over Bombers". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 18 February 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
^ Ryan, Peter (12 March 2017). "Match report: Cats claw way back in 10-goal turnaround". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 18 February 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
^ Bowen, Nick (25 March 2017). "Match report: Comeback Dons taste victory over Hawks". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 19 March 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
^ Whiting, Michael (1 April 2017). "Bombers hold on despite late Lions comeback". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 25 March 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
^ Twomey, Callum (9 April 2017). "Match report: Tough Blues break their duck in the wet". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 2 April 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
^ Gaskin, Lee (15 April 2017). "Match report: Eddie excels as Crows torch Bombers". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 14 March 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
^ Bowen, Nick (25 April 2017). "Match report: Dons claim Anzac Day classic". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 3 April 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
^ Schmook, Nathan (30 April 2017). "Match report: Dees bounce back in a scrap". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 2 April 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
^ King, Travis (7 May 2017). "Match report: Freo leaves it late against Dons". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 31 March 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
^ Twomey, Callum (13 May 2017). "Match report: Tiring Dons hold off Cats". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 3 April 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
^ Twomey, Callum (21 May 2017). "Match report: Eagles rocked by Dons onslaught". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 31 March 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
^ Ryan, Peter (27 May 2017). "Match report: Tigers' Dreamtime redemption". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 27 March 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
^ Kemp, Emma (3 June 2017). "Match report: Kelly shines as Giants go top". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 31 March 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
^ McGowan, Marc (10 June 2017). "Match report: Rampant Dons stake top-eight claim". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 2 April 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
^ Sygall, David (23 June 2017). "Match report: Swans in after-the-siren thriller". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 2 April 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
^ Guthrie, Ben (2 July 2017). "Match report: Lions roar home over Bombers". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 2 April 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
^ Twomey, Callum (8 July 2017). "Match report: Brutal Bombers bury Magpies". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 3 April 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
^ Schmook, Nathan (14 July 2017). "Match report: Dons drag Saints back to pack". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 3 April 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
^ Collins, Ben (22 July 2017). "Match report: Cale fuels Bombers' late surge". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 1 April 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
^ Twomey, Callum (30 July 2017). "Match report: Dogs' day as Dons kick it away". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 30 March 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
^ Bowen, Nick (5 August 2017). "Match report: Dons sneak home over brave Blues". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 3 April 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
^ Bowen, Nick (12 August 2017). "Match report: Crows close on minor premiership". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 16 March 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
^ Whiting, Michael (19 August 2017). "Match report: Dons control their own destiny". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 2 April 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
^ Twomey, Callum (27 August 2017). "Match report: Dons victory earns finals berth". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 3 April 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
^ Whiting, Michael (9 September 2017). "Match report: Brutal Swans end Dons' year". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2017.

[1] Twomey, Callum (16 February 2017). "Match report: Pies' late show spoils returning Dons' night". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 16 February 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2017.

[2] Whiting, Michael (26 February 2017). "Match report: Young Suns shine in win over Bombers". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 18 February 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2017.

[3] Ryan, Peter (12 March 2017). "Match report: Cats claw way back in 10-goal turnaround". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 18 February 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2017.

[rd1-4] Bowen, Nick (25 March 2017). "Match report: Comeback Dons taste victory over Hawks". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 19 March 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.

[rd2-5] Whiting, Michael (1 April 2017). "Bombers hold on despite late Lions comeback". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 25 March 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.

[rd3-6] Twomey, Callum (9 April 2017). "Match report: Tough Blues break their duck in the wet". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 2 April 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.

[rd4-7] Gaskin, Lee (15 April 2017). "Match report: Eddie excels as Crows torch Bombers". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 14 March 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.

[rd5-8] Bowen, Nick (25 April 2017). "Match report: Dons claim Anzac Day classic". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 3 April 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.

[rd6-9] Schmook, Nathan (30 April 2017). "Match report: Dees bounce back in a scrap". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 2 April 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.

[rd7-10] King, Travis (7 May 2017). "Match report: Freo leaves it late against Dons". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 31 March 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.

[rd8-11] Twomey, Callum (13 May 2017). "Match report: Tiring Dons hold off Cats". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 3 April 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.

[rd9-12] Twomey, Callum (21 May 2017). "Match report: Eagles rocked by Dons onslaught". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 31 March 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.

[rd10-13] Ryan, Peter (27 May 2017). "Match report: Tigers' Dreamtime redemption". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 27 March 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.

[rd11-14] Kemp, Emma (3 June 2017). "Match report: Kelly shines as Giants go top". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 31 March 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.

[rd12-15] McGowan, Marc (10 June 2017). "Match report: Rampant Dons stake top-eight claim". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 2 April 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.

[rd14-16] Sygall, David (23 June 2017). "Match report: Swans in after-the-siren thriller". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 2 April 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.

[rd15-17] Guthrie, Ben (2 July 2017). "Match report: Lions roar home over Bombers". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 2 April 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.

[rd16-18] Twomey, Callum (8 July 2017). "Match report: Brutal Bombers bury Magpies". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 3 April 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.

[rd17-19] Schmook, Nathan (14 July 2017). "Match report: Dons drag Saints back to pack". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 3 April 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.

[rd18-20] Collins, Ben (22 July 2017). "Match report: Cale fuels Bombers' late surge". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 1 April 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.

[rd19-21] Twomey, Callum (30 July 2017). "Match report: Dogs' day as Dons kick it away". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 30 March 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.

[rd20-22] Bowen, Nick (5 August 2017). "Match report: Dons sneak home over brave Blues". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 3 April 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.

[rd21-23] Bowen, Nick (12 August 2017). "Match report: Crows close on minor premiership". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 16 March 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.

[rd22-24] Whiting, Michael (19 August 2017). "Match report: Dons control their own destiny". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 2 April 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.

[rd23-25] Twomey, Callum (27 August 2017). "Match report: Dons victory earns finals berth". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 3 April 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.

[26] Whiting, Michael (9 September 2017). "Match report: Brutal Swans end Dons' year". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2017.

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