Rejuvenated off the bye week, Dean Solomon is hoping his Essendon youngsters can be malleable to a shifting game style and ‘flexible’ in how they attack the final nine games of the home-and-away campaign.

The Bombers have looked more physically combative and seen improvement in contested ball and clearance metrics under their Interim Senior Coach, but Solomon wants more consistency out of the group in what he describes as a ‘critical’ closing two months. 

With North Melbourne in their way on Sunday and the potential of up to seven returning players across both the Dons’ AFL and VFL programs, Solomon is confident his side will give a good account of itself after the break. 

Solomon on… returning to action

Everyone’s bounced in with good energy and they’re ready to go. 

(The break was more about) refreshing and resetting. There’s been a lot mentally for them over that three-week period, so we just reset, get back into the club, energise and focus forward.

We get seven players back potentially (if they) get through training today, which is going to help a lot at both levels, AFL and VFL, but it's good to get experience back. Caldwell, Parish, McGrath (will play seniors) and Clarke will play his first game in the VFL after injury. 

Solomon on… a ‘critical’ nine-week block to close out 2026

Yeah, absolutely (we’ve got a lot to prove).

That's why we're here, to improve. We've shifted a few things in the way that we play, we’ve shifted the week in the way that we focus on our training but it's critically important that we finish the year with momentum. 

This next nine-week block is the most important part of that, to ensure that we appreciate it in a positive way with a good headspace and look to win games. 

Solomon on… game style, tangible areas for improvement

We want flexibility with the way we play, we just want to drive a bit more ball forward and be more of a ‘time in forward half’ over a ‘possession’ team.

Our ball movement will come off the back of good contest and the shape of our team defence.

We want to get after the opposition a bit more and apply more pressure. We feel like we've been inconsistent with that at times - it's hard to shift a heap of that in-season - but with a young group, I just want them to learn honestly on how to how to win their one-on-ones, both ground ball and aerial, (learn) how to shape at contest, and then how to structure up and connect really quickly in defence. 

We want to get that going at a consistent level, attack more in the front half, attack quite well and be quite potent. 

I don't think it'll be a dour type of game plan, I just think we just need to tidy up a few things. Especially for a young group, it's important they learn that early. 

Solomon on… the North Melbourne challenge 

I think when you play North, it brings the best out of you. They’re a good club on the build and are playing some good footy, they’ve bounced back well from a couple weeks ago when they played Fremantle.  

We'll be doing it our best to take it up to them, we feel like we're in a good space and we're really looking forward to Sunday's game. 

Solomon on… an ‘ahead of time’ Roberts return, Jaxon Artemis’ start 

The (medical team) discussed surgery for Archie but they’re really confident that he can be back in a couple of weeks’ time. They spoke with Archie and he's really keen to push to play this year, so that’s been the discussion so far. 

It’s really important in the second half of the year for us to finish really well. If he was in any danger, if there was any long-term stuff (attached), we'd never put him at risk. It’s always player-first but after discussions with the medical staff and himself, they want to push that way. We're keen to support that.

He's progressing really well and ahead of time, so we expect to see him back in the next couple of weeks. 

(Artemis) played in the VFL two weeks ago and we saw glimpses of what he's capable of. 

We do feel like he needs another week or two to find his feet at this level but he's contributing and fitting in well. He's connected with the playing group and we'll continue to assess him really closely. 

Solomon on… Zach Merrett’s comments this week, his move to half back 

I haven't seen all of his comments but I applaud him for being open and honest. 

I love the fact that we can talk about our individual journeys, it's no doubt been a tough time for him and the way he's navigated it has been incredible inside our four walls. 

He's driving meetings, he's been a real leader. He's developing the youth that we have, so I can't ask any more of him. 

Yeah, at this point in time we are (going to persist with him at half back). 

We're just shifting some of our ball movement stuff, so we'll stick with Zach there at this point in time, but within the game get flexibility to come up and support our midfield. 

Solomon on… ongoing commentary surrounding the Senior Coach position

My position hasn't changed in that space.

I'm focused on the role I'm in at the moment, I've got to keep my head and keep my eyes down in that space. There are a lot of reports going on and a lot of conversation around myself but right here, right now, inside my bubble, I'm just focused on what I need to focus on.

We’ve got a big game on Sunday and if you get distracted too much away from that, the game punches you in the face pretty quickly. We focus on what we need to focus on and that's North Melbourne.

Solomon on… finishing strong 

I just strip it back. I’m here for the players, I’m here for the staff, I’m here for the footy club and whatever I can do, whatever role that I play that’s best for them? That's what I'll do.

I always have enjoyed coaching, I’ve said that from day one and it's a big challenge. We're a big club and we just want to make our fans proud again, and that's why the next nine weeks are really important.

I'm enjoying it and I firmly believe we can do some damage on the way home this year.