CALDER Cannons are stacked with club-tied talent across every age group in 2025, with Essendon fans likely to take a particular interest in the local region for years to come. Headlined by a pick one contender, the Cannons head coach Sam Willett says his side is set to play an exciting brand of footy.

PRESEASON

“It’s been good. A lot more organised this year. Coming in February last year meant that we were working a little bit week-to-week, but this year having the full plan and giving them a full block of education and learning around what we want is really good.”

TOP-AGE VIC METRO HUB MEMBERS

Cooper Duff-Tytler
Ruck/Key Forward | 200cm | 22/08/2007

AFL Academy

“It was good to have him pick football midway through the year last year. Good to have him have a full preseason of football under his belt, which I think will really showcase his talent through the year as we go, but he’s been brilliant.”

Hussien El Achkar
Small Forward/Midfielder | 171cm | 02/04/2007

Essendon NGA

“‘Huss’ has been really good as well. He’s did a week with Essendon just after Christmas with their AFL side and they were really happy with how he went. He’s a great story. He was one that we didn’t really know much about going into his bottom-age year but showed what he could do and we’re really excited to see what he does as a top-ager.”

Felix Kneipp
Midfielder/Defender | 179cm | 01/01/2007

“Felix has been going well too. Had a couple of injuries in the last couple of weeks, but nothing major. So he’s again, another one that’s a really good physical tester as well, so we’re looking forward to seeing what he can do. He’ll get a run through the midfield and maybe a bit of half-back and wing if he can get into Metro as well.”

ONES TO WATCH

“A couple are ‘watch and waits’, we’ll just see what they can produce. We’re keen to see if Jackson Barber and Hamish Bird can go up another gear. Barber played five or six games as a key defender, 195cm, intercepts and kicks the ball really well. We’re keen to see what he can do. Hamish Bird was a 16s Metro rep. Played just about every game last year and played just about every position last year as well, so he’ll settle down into the midfield. He’s a really good inside to outside player.”

RETURNING OVER-AGERS

Cooper Herbert, Gus Papal, Carled El Khodr, Jack Ryan and Alex Alessio. Alex Alessio is father-son to Essendon, Carled El Khodr is an NGA prospect. Jack Ryan played a fair bit of football for us last year as an intercepting defender. Gus Papal was in his first year of Coates League last year, so he’ll play as a key defender this year. Again, another really good interceptor. Then Cooper Herbert is a hybrid, dynamic forward who had a bit of interest towards the end of last year and we’re keen to show him off again before the Young Guns.

STANDOUT BOTTOM-AGERS

“There are a few father-sons in the bottom-age group. We’ve got Levi West, Rhylee‘s brother. He didn’t do much at 16s last year because of injury, but he’ll play a bit of forward and mid. Sam Harris is another one, son of Daniel. He’ll again do a very similar forward-mid [rotation]. Then we have Jackson Watkins and Jack Dodorico who were both Metro boys last year, as well as Ben Taylor who played a bit of Metro as well.”

OTHER CLUB-TIED PROSPECTS

“We’re really proud of our NGA multicultural list. Adam Sweid, who’s a top-age NGA to Essendon, Blake Justice, who’s a bottom-age NGA to Essendon as well. Olu Olalekan is another one as well. So, we’ve got some really cool stories there that we’re excited to showcase in their bottom-age year.”

LEADERSHIP GROUP

“Our co-captains this year are going to be Jackson Barber and Hamish Bird, and then our vice-captain is Hussien El Achkar as well.”

GOALS

“I think just to build throughout the year. Last year we probably had a really good patch in the middle of the year where we were playing some really good football. I think it’s more just continually build and expose them to different things as the year goes on and get the guys who we want to be firing for Metro in the right time and peak for the end of the year as well.”

STYLE OF PLAY

“We haven’t done opposition yet, so I can’t tell you just yet. I think just to try and be really aggressive with our ball movement, take ground, exciting [play] that showcases that talent. That’s the main thing.”

ROUND 1

“It’ll be good. I had a feeling that we were going to play Oakleigh in those first games. I thought after the Wildcard game last year which was a really good contest, and then with Cooper Duff-Tytler and Louis Emmett being the [National] Academy boys I think they’ll have a go at each other in the ruck which will be exciting as well, so keen for that.”