Red and Black Unfiltered

In this marathon final episode of season 2026, Pete and Coops ramp up the banter to close out the year with plenty of positivity for the new Spike era.

The boys start with a chat about the finals so far, and just how far off they make us look. Then they turn to the latest Bombers news - coaching team moves, including Hirdy, draft strategies, and trade rumours. There's a bit going on!

Then the lads spend most of this final episode to close out the season with some list digest. Pete and Coops analyze their preseason predictions and player ratings for the season, and there are some doozies in there! They then discuss expectations versus actual performances of key players, coaching decisions, and season outcomes. The detailed list digest and best 23 shows how young we are, but also that we have plenty of talent.

Bring on 2027, it's only up from here!

Enjoy Bombers fans.

Mark McVeigh is officially our new coach — but how do we feel about it 24 hours later?

Coops and Pete unpack the fallout from the appointment, including their initial disappointment that James Hird missed out, concerns about the compromised candidate pool, and the awkward way Hird apparently learned of the decision.

But after hearing McVeigh’s first press conference and digging into his coaching CV, the mood starts to shift. His Essendon connection, development experience, defensive credentials and genuine passion for the club all give the boys plenty to like.

The big question now: Will James Hird return to the Bombers in another role? Pete thinks it could be transformative; Coops isn’t convinced Hird’s ego will allow it.

They also question Welshy’s role in the process, discuss the future of Zach Merrett, and debate whether Essendon’s new three-year timeline to compete for finals represents realistic expectations (finally).

Plus: a quick review of the final game of the season, Caddy's six-goal bag, Andy McGrath’s 200th, and the announcement of the Red and Black Unfiltered Player of the Year.

The verdict? After some initial disappointment, McVeigh gets our support. Now, show us what comes next.

Enjoy, Bombers fans!

The next Essendon coach announcement continues to drag on… but does anyone actually have any idea who it’s going to be? Hird? McVeigh? Or is Jaymie Graham sitting quietly in the background, ready to shock the world?

What we do know is that patience is a virtue Essendon fans have long since acquired — but enough is enough. We need to rise.

In this episode, we’re joined by long-time superfan Damo, who brings his unfiltered views on the players, where he sees positives and, most importantly, gives Pete and Coops a little light in another tough season.

We skim over the Swans game, preview the final clash against the Power, and then do what we do best — spitball, hypothesise and go around in circles about who will be next in line to take on the poisoned chalice.

As always, it’s raw, unfiltered and unapologetically Essendon.

Enjoy, Bomber fans!

In this episode of Red and Black Unfiltered, Coops and Pete reunite to unpack another difficult week for Essendon following a heavy loss to Adelaide. We're sticking fat!

They break down where the game slipped away, highlighting Adelaide's dominance inside 50, Essendon's defensive struggles, and the recurring issues that continue to plague the Bombers. Despite the result, the pair find positives in Peter Wright's six-goal performance and the emergence of young defender Jackson Artemis, while also discussing the promise shown by Dyson Sharp, Archie Roberts, Jacob Farrow and the club's exciting crop of developing talent.

The conversation then shifts to the bigger picture, with an update on Essendon's coaching search and the candidates linked to the vacant senior role. Coops and Pete debate the merits of experienced coaches versus first-time appointments, speculate on club direction, and share their thoughts on where the Bombers should focus their list rebuild—particularly in defence.

To lighten the mood, they revive their popular "Flying Blind" segment, creating the ultimate Essendon player by combining legendary Bombers' attributes, revisiting painful moments they'd erase from club history, and testing each other with Essendon trivia. They finish by previewing the daunting trip to Geelong, discussing selection dilemmas, potential inclusions, and what they hope to see from the club's younger players over the final weeks of the season.

Coops and Josh break down the wreckage: Ridley and Robey injuries gutting the structure, questionable calls on Mackay and Blackiston, and a defence that couldn't lay a glove on Hawthorn's ball movement. There's praise too — Dyson Sharp's leadership and Caddy's grunt stood out in an otherwise brutal day.

But the real story is what's coming. The coaching search is down to four — Hird, McVeigh, Davis, Graham — with Dean Solomon still lurking as the wildcard who hasn't said yes or no. Coops and Josh weigh up what each name means for the club's identity, and why the next fortnight could define Essendon's rebuild.

Pain, rivalry, and a coaching decision that can't come soon enough — this one's got it all.

Enjoy Bomber Fans!

In this episode of Red and Black Unfiltered, we celebrate a much-needed and long-overdue win against the Giants! For the players, and especially the fans, the gloom of the 2026 season finally begins to lift — maybe only temporarily, but we’ll take it. Something felt different from the start, and Pete and Coops break down the key moments and the players who stood tall when it mattered most.

We also hand out votes for the coveted R&B Unfiltered Player of the Year award as the race heats up, before diving into the latest on “the process” to find our next coach. Hird or bust?

Finally, we turn our attention to the grudge match against the Hawks, where a solid showing would be the perfect tonic against our old foes.

Enjoy, Bomber fans!

Pete & Boydy do everything they can to avoid speaking about another horrendous loss, a low point for the club.

Instead, the boys provide a deep dive on some of the senior players for season 2026 - has their stock risen, fallen, or are we ready for a fire sale for some of them?

It's brutal honesty, and an insight into how far some of our trusted senior players have fallen in the past 12 months.

Enjoy Dons fans!

Pete & Josh are back to chat all things Bombers after our horrendous Round 17 loss to the Saints. The game review time is deliberately curtailed, and the boys quickly move onto the real news and debate around the club from the past week.

The boys discuss the coaching process which has now officially kicked off, with candidates going on 'coffee-dates'. We chat Solly, Hirdy, Longmire, Hinkley, as well as a host of first-time options. The spectre of Hird as Messiah is real, but Josh asks could there be a goldilocks combo that we could consider?

The discussion then moves onto 15+ players out of contract at the end of season 2026, and key decisions around Keep/Trade/Delist, with the same assessment provided for some supposedly wantaway Dons. Should we keep the likes of Merrett, Ridley, Parish around if they want out?

The discussion wraps up with a very short preview of the Lions game where the odds are long but not long enough for the diehards!

Enjoy Bombers fans!

This week, Pete and Coops unpack Essendon's decision to use an internal-only coaching recruitment panel and ask the big question: is this a sign of decisive leadership, or another example of the club looking inward when it should be looking outside?

We break down the loss, the effort (or lack of it), and the tactical moves that caught our eye, including Harry Jones down back, Ben McKay's role, and the pressure numbers that continue to tell a worrying story. We also discuss which players are still leading from the front, who needs to lift, and why inconsistent effort has become one of the club's biggest concerns.

With the coaching search heating up, we explore what this recruitment process says about Essendon's future, whether the club is genuinely changing, and what the next appointment must deliver to finally break the cycle.

Plus:

• Standout, Watch & Shocker
• Votes
• Coaching panel deep dive
• Player performance discussion
• Plenty of passionate Bombers debate

If you're looking for honest analysis, big opinions and plenty of Essendon discussion, this is one you won't want to miss.

🎙️ Red & Black Unfiltered — by Bombers fans, for Bombers fans.

Another week, another massive conversation around the future of the Essendon Football Club.

After a frustrating performance against Melbourne, the boys including return special guest Boydy, break down the key moments from the game, highlighting the standout performers, the concerns around the ruck division, ongoing forward line issues, and the players who failed to deliver when it mattered most.

With the coaching search dominating discussion, we shift focus to the big question every Bombers supporter is asking:

Do the Dons need an experienced senior figure or is it time to back an emerging first-time coach? What qualities should the next coach possess? How much does media spin influence the conversation, and can the club finally get the process right?

Enjoy Bomber Fans