Essendon vs Port Adelaide Preview
Essendon will cap off a miserable season with a morale-boosting win against Port Adelaide in Round 24.
There are no finals implications at Marvel Stadium, with both sides playing purely for pride. Essendon enter the final round on the bottom of the ladder but can climb above Richmond with victory if the Tigers lose to Geelong, while Port Adelaide are sitting in 15th position.
This looks like one of Essendon’s best opportunities to finish the season with something positive. The Bombers have lost their past four matches, but all four have come against sides inside the top seven and they showed considerably more resistance in last weekend’s 36-point defeat to Sydney. Port Adelaide are in even worse shape, having lost six consecutive matches while conceding an average of 115 points per game during that run.
The Power's road record adds further appeal to Essendon with both the +17.5 start and at head-to-head odds. Port Adelaide have lost their past five matches at Marvel Stadium and are just 2-8 interstate this season. Their once-strong defensive game has fallen away significantly in recent weeks and Melbourne exposed them for 132 points last weekend, particularly through speed and turnover.
Peter Wright is capable of taking advantage. The key forward has kicked 10 goals across his past four matches, including two against Sydney last weekend, and Port's injury-hit defence has struggled to contain opposition forwards. Another two-goal performance looks attainable.
The midfield numbers also point towards Zach Merrett and Miles Bergman. Merrett has recorded 25+ disposals in each of his past eight matches against Port Adelaide, while Bergman collected 27 against Melbourne last weekend. Essendon concede more disposals than any side in the competition, giving Bergman every opportunity to find plenty of the ball even if the Power fail to win.
- Essendon come off a 36-point loss to Sydney in Round 23, while Port Adelaide went down to Melbourne by 76.
- Peter Wright has kicked 10 goals in his past four matches.
- Zach Merrett has had 25+ disposals in each of his past eight matches against Port Adelaide.
- Miles Bergman had 27 disposals against Melbourne last weekend.
Head to Head
Port Adelaide were 63-point winners against Essendon earlier this season but the Bombers took out the most recent Marvel Stadium meeting by 12 points. The Power have won nine of the past 10 between the two sides.
Standout player performances in the recent head to heads have come from:
- Zach Merrett (Dons)- 25+ disposals in each of his past eight against Port Adelaide
- Zak Butters (Port)- 36 disposals in the most recent meeting.
- Mitch Georgiades (Port)- 2+ goals in each of his past five against the Bombers for a total of 13.
- Nate Caddy (Dons)- six goals from his past two matches against the Power.
Essendon Form Analysis
Essendon enter Round 24 with a 2-20 win-loss record and have lost their past four matches by an average margin of 69 points. The draw has been exceptionally difficult during that stretch, with each of those matches coming against sides currently positioned inside the top seven.
The Bombers showed more resistance in their 36-point defeat to Sydney last weekend. Will Setterfield collected 32 disposals, while Nate Caddy kicked three goals and Peter Wright added two. Wright has now kicked 10 goals across his past four matches and continues to provide a reliable target inside 50.
Essendon continue to have trouble stopping opposition midfielders, conceding more disposals than any side in the competition. Errol Gulden amassed 47 disposals against them last weekend, while Zach Merrett remains their major midfield threat and has recorded 28+ in three of his past five matches.
Essendon Team News
No injuries for the Bombers to come out of the Round 23 loss. Jade Gresham and Elijah Tsatsas continue their strong form in the VFL and will be considered for selection.
Port Adelaide Form Analysis
The wheels have fallen off at Port Adelaide, who enter Round 24 on a six-match losing streak following their 76-point defeat to Melbourne. As recently as six weeks ago, the Power ranked among the competition’s better defensive teams, but they are now conceding an average of 115 points per game across their past six matches.
Their road record has also deteriorated badly. Port Adelaide have lost their past five matches at Marvel Stadium and have a 2-8 interstate record in 2026. Injuries and an increasingly inexperienced line-up have tested their depth during the latter stages of the campaign.
Ollie Wines collected 31 disposals against Melbourne, Joe Richards had 29 and Jase Burgoyne finished with 27. Wines has recorded 23+ in five consecutive matches, while Mitch Georgiades continues to provide a threat in attack after kicking four goals against Melbourne and nine across his past three matches.
Port Adelaide Team News
Aliir Aliir will miss the final round after suffering a concussion against Melbourne. The key defender was knocked out during the second term and played no further part, further stretching an already inexperienced Port Adelaide defence. Brandon Zerk-Thatcher is a possible replacement, while Will Lorenz, Christian Moraes and Will Brodie have some strong form in the SANFL.