Pre-Season Training Watch 2026: Roles, Recruits & Round 1 Reality - Featuring Rick Edwards

With Essendon’s first practice match a day away, we bring in the best training watcher in the business, Rick Edwards, to break down everything we’ve learned from the 2026 pre-season. From role changes and standout performers to new recruits and Round 1 prospects, this is your most comprehensive look yet at how the Bombers are shaping up. We cover: How this pre-season compares to 2025 The evolving game plan Xavier Duursma’s shift to half forward Archie Roberts’ midfield exposure Brayden Fiorini’s leadership impact Updates on Robey, Farrow, Sharp, Kondogiannis & El-Achkar Concerns, question marks and what still needs work And yes… the latest nomination for the Damian Barrett Lifetime Achievement Award (#DBLAA) Balanced. Informed. No fluff. If you want to know what’s actually happening at The Hangar, this is the episode. 🔗 Rick’s Patreon link - https://www.patreon.com/cw/RickEdwards 🔴⚫ Don The Stat Patreon Q&A next week   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 __