Don The Stat

donthestat
  • 4.9 (86)
  • FOOTBALL
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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.

  1. Round 1 Match Committee: Featuring Robert Shaw. How would we line up against the Hawks?

    2 HRS AGO

    Round 1 Match Committee: Featuring Robert Shaw. How would we line up against the Hawks?

    We’re 29 days out from Round 1… and that means one thing for Essendon fans: Selection season has officially begun. On this special episode of Don The Stat, Jono and Ian are joined by former Essendon premiership architect and two-time senior AFL coach Robert Shaw, who steps into the role of Chairman of Selectors. The task? Pick the Essendon side best placed to take on Hawthorn in Round 1. This isn’t a “Best 23” debate. It’s about matchups. Structure. Game style. And how the Bombers should approach a Hawks side missing key midfield pieces. We cover: 🔴 How match committee operated in the past (and a classic Andrew Welsh story) 🔴 Whether Hawthorn’s Opening Round game is an advantage or disadvantage 🔴 Defensive matchups for Chol, Lewis, Gunston, Watson & Ginnivan 🔴 The midfield battle without, Day or Worpel 🔴 Do you tag Newcombe? 🔴 How Lachlan Blakiston shapes up against Meek and possibly Reeves 🔴 A pace-heavy forward line vs structural discipline 🔴 Patron-voted Round 1 side vs our own selections 🔴 The unlucky names who just miss out Plus, Rob gives his expectations for Essendon in 2026. Selection debates don’t get much better than this. Stay Safe & Go Dons.   ____   Footy Tipping Comp (password: DonTheStat2026) https://www.footytips.com.au/comps/Don_The_Stat_2026_Tipping?p=DonTheStat2026 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==

    1h 29m
  2. Don The Stat Countdown to 2026 - 29 Days to Round 1

    17 HRS AGO

    Don The Stat Countdown to 2026 - 29 Days to Round 1

    We are officially 29 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.   Jumper Number 29 — a jumper with Premiership history, and a Reynolds family thread across generations. _______________________ 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

    3 min
  3. Don The Stat Countdown to 2026 - 30 Days to Round 1

    1 DAY AGO

    Don The Stat Countdown to 2026 - 30 Days to Round 1

    We are officially 30 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.   Jumper Number 30 — a number that has quietly carried Premiership players, long-serving contributors, and now the next generation. We’ll be back tomorrow for Day 29 and Guernsey Number 29. _______________________ 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

    2 min
  4. Xavier Duursma joins Don The Stat: Role Clarity, Leadership, and Taking the Next Step at Essendon

    2 DAYS AGO

    Xavier Duursma joins Don The Stat: Role Clarity, Leadership, and Taking the Next Step at Essendon

    In this episode of Don The Stat, we sit down with Xavier Duursma as he reflects on his third pre-season at Essendon Football Club and why this one feels like a turning point. After playing the most games of his career in 2025, Xavier speaks openly about how his body is tracking, the confidence that comes from continuity, and how that’s allowed him to fully invest in his game. We dive into: his role heading into 2026 and what it demands the differences between playing wing and half-forward what he brings to Essendon’s forward line the impact of new Assistant Coach Dean Solomon his leadership aspirations and what growth off the field looks like for him how his brother is settling in at West Coast Eagles and what excites him most about Essendon in 2026, including big praise for Jordan Ridley and the club’s new draftees. It’s a conversation about role clarity, trust in your body, learning from strong coaches, and stepping into greater responsibility all pointing toward why Xavier believes 2026 could be an exciting year. 🎧 A must-listen for Bombers fans tracking how this list and its leaders are evolving. _______________________ 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

    10 min
  5. Don the Stat Countdown to 2026 - 31 Days to Round 1

    2 DAYS AGO

    Don the Stat Countdown to 2026 - 31 Days to Round 1

    We are officially 31 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.   Jumper Number 31 — a number that grew into greatness, and ultimately became inseparable from one of the greatest careers the game has seen. _______________________ 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

    2 min
  6. Don The Stat Countdown to 2026 - 32 Days to Round 1

    3 DAYS AGO

    Don The Stat Countdown to 2026 - 32 Days to Round 1

    We are officially 32 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.   Jumper Number 32 — a number defined by longevity, leadership, and Premiership success across generations. We’ll be back tomorrow for Day 31 and Guernsey Number 31. _______________________ 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

    3 min
  7. Don The Stat Countdown to 2026 - 33 Days to Round 1

    4 DAYS AGO

    Don The Stat Countdown to 2026 - 33 Days to Round 1

    We are officially 34 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.   Jumper Number 33 — a number rich in Premiership history, longevity, and attacking excellence. _______________________ 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

    3 min
  8. Don The Stat Countdown to 2026 - 34 Days to Round 1

    5 DAYS AGO

    Don The Stat Countdown to 2026 - 34 Days to Round 1

    We are officially 34 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.   Jumper Number 34 — a number that carries Premiership history, generational links, and the start of several important Essendon journeys. _______________________ 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

    3 min
See All (100)

4.9
out of 5
86 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    donthestat
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Don The Stat

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