Official AFL games are underway with Geelong and the Bombers opening the Community Series fixture at GMHBA Stadium.
The game was a tight encounter throughout, with Essendon edging out the Cats by 21 points, thanks to a late Bombers flurry.
Both clubs can take plenty of positives from the scratch match though, with travels to Queensland in Opening Round being the next time each club will take the field in 2025.
Essendon young trio shine brighter
After the Bombers' first unofficial practice match against the Bulldogs, the hype for the young pairing of Nate Caddy and Isaac Kako swelled greater than it had since Kako's drafting in November.
A week later, that hype has undoubtedly garnered more traction after stellar outputs on Tuesday night.
Caddy was lively aerially and on the scoreboard, despite his low touches, kicking three goals and clunking three marks.
Kako's performance was remarkable however, as in just his second pre-season outing in Essendon colours he converted a game-high four majors, including a game-sealing goal with six minutes to spare.
Kako's defensive efforts and pressure were also admirable on the night, seemingly galvanising the intensity of his red and black troops.
Both players have firmed themselves for Opening Round appearances, with their youthful spark and energy igniting a vocal crowd, and energising a rejuvenated Essendon forward line.
Attention on Kako and Caddy gave space to more experienced heads in the forward line, with Archie Perkins, Jade Gresham kicking two each, and even Nic Martin and Sam Durham swinging forward to kick multiple goals.
While the expectations for the Bombers are low in 2025, the surprise teenage packet of Caddy and Kako could certainly cause headaches for their oppositions this season.
Additionally, Elijah Tsatas has put his hand up for selection with a game-high 31 disposals. Struggling with form and injury in his first couple of seasons at the Hangar, Tsatas is firming for an Opening Round inclusion with back-to-back strong pre-season hitouts.
Perhaps this pre-season could be a sign of things to come, and Tsatas could add an extensive number of games to his current career tally of 11 in 2025.
Ruck role still a concern for Cats
The Sam De Koning trial in the ruck still remains divisive, with Sam Draper comprehensively outperforming the tall Cat in the contest.
Draper recorded a game-high 25 hitouts, while backup counterpart Nick Bryan tapped 14 of his own. De Koning however was restricted to just 15 for the game, while Mark Blicavs and key forward Shannon Neale combined for an additional 13.
As the Bombers came out on top, Geelong's ruck concerns remained evident, and the merry-go-round rotation of De Koning, Blicavs and more seems likely to continue in season 2025.
In a positive note for Geelong, the smalls contributed significantly across the match, with Gryan Miers accumulating 30 disposals and Tyson Stengle snagging two majors as an undermanned Cats side kept close with the energetic Bombers.
Essendon gameplan a sight for sore eyes
Essendon's transition style on Tuesday night was clearly an aspect of Brad Scott's gameplan that had been honed over the summer, with lateral movement in defence before direct counter-attacking down the ground holding the Bombers in good stead against quality Geelong opposition.
Defenders Andrew McGrath and Dylan Shiel found plenty of the ball through uncontested chains (28 and 26 disposals respectively), as did high forwards Ben Hobbs and Harrison Jones (29 and 27 disposals respectively).
Clean ball movement and fluent in transition, it was a sight for sore eyes after a season of mediocre ball use in 2024.
Should the Bombers continue with this structure, the Bombers could be a sneaky team to rise in 2025, especially given they overcame the GMHBA fortress, albeit it was a practice run.
Yet, the exciting playstyle should be one to watch early doors this season.
