Essendon Interim Senior Coach Dean Solomon addressed the media after Sunday night’s tight contest against the Blues, praising his side’s effort while acknowledging areas for growth.

Solomon highlighted encouraging signs from the Bombers’ evolving game plan, particularly their contest work and defensive structure, but stressed the importance of consistency as the side looks to build momentum over the final stretch of the 2026 season.

He also reflected on key individual performances and positional moves, while reinforcing belief in the group’s direction despite the narrow defeat.

All of the key talking points below:

Solomon on… balancing ball use against Carlton

Our pressure came off slowly, and to their credit, Carlton elevated their game as well and challenged us with ball in hand.

I felt we went a bit safer ball in hand, to be honest. We started to go lateral and backwards a bit more.

We want to be more of a time in front half type team rather than time in possession type team.

We did go a bit safe.

Solomon on… first-half intensity and contest work

That is the style play we want to play.

We want to get into an arm wrestle. We want to be really strong around the ball but have really good balance in the way we go about that and the contest work.

Team defence, we’ve been working a huge amount on that during the week just to make sure we can continually be stable behind the ball.

The major threat was Carlton, their ball use, the way they've been moving the ball, it's been sensational.

They beat Geelong last week, they're a good side. They won four in a row, Josh Fraser's a very good coach.

That's the way we want it to look, but we didn't do that for 100% a game.

Solomon on… building consistency and belief

I felt like we had a good week of reviewing the game, the way we prepped, the way that we've educated.

The coaches have done an amazing job to get this playing group in the headspace they're in.

I thought the boys were really brave tonight, I thought the way we played was really brave.

They desperately want to sing the song and the players and all the staff of this footy Club I feel deserves to sing the song soon.

But I feel it was a big step in the right direction tonight.

Solomon on… Zach Merrett's role and impact

Zach has played half back over the years and I think the way that we're sort of tweaking our game plan, we want to generate a bit more drive out of our half back and obviously we know what Zach can do, he’s got a lethal left foot.

The coaches discussed it throughout the week, we broke it down, what the pros and cons of it were and ‘do we take away from the midfield?’, but we felt that ended up in a positive space.

We had a discussion around that (putting Merrett into the midfield during the third quarter), I think we did feel like he was giving us a fair bit of drive and we chose to send a message just to probably continue to give him confidence to run past handball receives and try and generate some flow from that and get it in the forward half.

Solomon on… Ben McKay as a forward target

Ben was a good focal point, he gives us a contest.

Our ball movement centre-forward, we’ve got a lot of work to do there and our connection, but we'll continue to try and make that more efficient to give both of those guys more opportunity.

But I think he's giving us a great target and he's got a nice set of hands, and he's a good steady set shot.

So, we'll continue to persevere with that, I'm very confident that he can develop into a very handy player for us in the forward line.

Solomon on… supporting Nate Caddy

Nate Caddy loves his football Club, he gives everything he can for us.

Unfortunately, the last two weeks, we just haven't helped him out.

His patterns are good, but we've got a fair bit of connection work to do centre forward, to make sure that we can maximise who he is and the player that he is and positions he gets into.

We'll continue to work, but he's a ripper, it’ll turn for him as we can deliver the ball better.

Solomon on… player buy-in under new leadership

I've been really impressed with the way that they've bought into what we're doing.

They're driving meetings, they're taking edits, they're taking walkthroughs, they’re taking a huge amount of responsibility of where we're heading.

They, like us, want to finish the year with momentum. We don’t want to waste this year.

We're going to hit the finishing line with momentum because we know that's critically important to our pre-season.

They’ve been sensational, the players, and as have the staff and the coaches, but I love empowering the players and they're in a good space and I feel like we can do some damage on the way home.

Solomon on… focus areas for the run home

We just want to create environment that is player lead, that can get massive buy in, take the meetings, control the walk-throughs.

I thought our shape was a lot better around the contest. I thought at times when we collapsed off corridor we paid the price, so a little bit inconsistent.

And our team defence, those are the three areas I want to keep working on, then it allows us to apply the pressure that we saw at times tonight.

We're just chasing the small wins. The guys have got a trademark that live by and we're going to chase those small wins and as I said, get the momentum on the way home and make sure they're in a great headspace.

Solomon on… Hussien El Achkar’s development

Hussy’s working on his game, his defensive pressure, his tackling pressure and his transition is an area we continue to work on.

We know when he's around the goals he can hit the scoreboard.

Just look at his body shape, it’s completely changed from the start of the year, he's gone to work, he's doing extra sessions.

He's very hungry to be a very good player, but he's really clear on the areas he needs to improve on.

He's taking steps forward, got a bit to go, but he's a student of the game, he’s heading in the right direction.

Solomon on… VFL performers pushing for selection

They were great, and I think the way the VFL played today was in line with the way that we want to play as well.

I think I think we had five listed players and Carlton had 14 listed players.

So (Edwards and Ridley) put their hands up for selection, there's no doubt about that.

I'll check, obviously tomorrow, how they’ve pulled up, but both put hands up for selection, absolutely.

Solomon on… Darcy Parish injury update

I do expect Darcy to be available from what I've been told at this point.

I guess they’ll assess him over the next 48 hours as well, but at this point in time, I do feel he will be available.

Solomon on… coaching structure ahead of the bye

I feel like I feel like we're actually handling ok at the moment, so we haven't really progressed those (coaching structure) conversations too far, but we'll get to the bye and assess it from there.

Whatever can create the best environment for the players, we'll do that. 

We'll get their feedback get the leaders feedback as well, how they feel the environment's going, if you need to get extra resources in to support them.