Essendon Bombers vs GWS Giants LIVE: Ailing Bombers chase Marvel miracle win against Giants We’re sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We’re working to restore it. Please try again later. DismissSkip to sections navigationSkip to contentSkip to footer Our network Open NavigationMenu Brisbane Times Brisbane Times Search Site Show subsections Western Australia Show subsections Bulls N' Bears The economy Banking & finance Small business Show subsections North America Middle East South America Show subsections Western Australia Show subsections Show subsections Rugby union Show subsections Tips & advice Show subsections Art & design Live reviews Show subsections Health & wellness Life & relationships Show subsections Destination guides Inspiration Reviews & advice Travel news Good Weekend Sunday Life Show subsections Super & retirement Planning & budgeting Environment Show subsections Conservation Climate change Sustainability Show subsections Video games The Sydney Morning Herald Brisbane Times The Australian Financial Review Commercial Real Estate Advertisement Essendon Bombers vs GWS Giants LIVE: Ailing Bombers chase Marvel miracle win against Giants By Roy Ward and Scott Spits July 17, 2025 — 6.36pm Log in, register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size 6.36pmInjury-hammered Bombers to revamp medical program 6.36pmInteractive: Your side’s path this season Hide key posts Go to latest Pinned post from 6.36pm Interactive: Your side’s path this season Latest posts Latest posts Injury-hammered Bombers to revamp medical program Essendon will allocate extra resources to go about fixing their under-fire strength and conditioning program as the Bombers prepare to face surging GWS with 17 players unavailable. The Bombers’ tumultuous season plagued by injuries continues to worsen after losing star playmaker Nic Martin (knee) and midfielder Will Setterfield (foot) long-term in Saturday night’s ugly loss against Richmond. The walking wounded of Tullamarine: Will Setterfield and Nic Martin.Credit: Getty Images Essendon confirmed on Wednesday young midfielder Elijah Tsatas had also joined the injury list after straining his hamstring during the defeat. Rising forward Nate Caddy and midfielder Ben Hobbs were also injured, but are expected to only miss a week. Essendon will equal the most debutants in a season in the AFL era - 13 - when mid-season draftee Liam McMahon plays against the Giants at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night. Archie Perkins, Jade Gresham, Vigo Visentini, Dylan Shiel and Matt Guelfi also come into the side amidst a whopping six changes, with veteran ruckman Todd Goldstein rested. Bombers coach Brad Scott was almost lost for words when detailing the injury crisis after the Richmond game, but was more upbeat a day out from facing the Giants. “A five-day break, there’s no time to be getting distracted from what I need to do,” Scott said on Wednesday. “I do have the utmost confidence in the people who are looking at our program. There’s no doubt we will relocate resources to that (medical conditioning) space. “We know better than anyone this year how important it is to get your players fit and available. “It’s hard not to be really frustrated, almost exasperated, just devastating seeing players like Nic Martin and Will Setterfield suffer really serious injuries. “It’s been a perfect storm of a whole range of different injuries all coming together at once. “There are moments, don’t get me wrong, where we all - including me - feel sorry for ourselves, but we’ve got to bounce out of that really quickly.” Martin became the fourth Bomber to injure their ACL this season, joining Nick Bryan, Lewis Hayes and Tom Edwards. Sam Draper will also be sidelined for up to 12 months after rupturing his achilles in April. Essendon will have 11 first-choice players sidelined against GWS - Martin, Setterfield, Caddy, Hobbs, Draper, Darcy Parish, Jye Caldwell, Kyle Langford, Ben McKay, Harry Jones and Zach Reid. The Bombers will be spared GWS at their best, with Coleman Medallist Jesse Hogan and star midfielder Josh Kelly to miss the trip to Melbourne. But GWS veteran Stephen Coniglio will make his long-awaited AFL return, having overcome a glute complaint stemming from a nerve issue suffered earlier this season. The Giants also recalled Max Gruzewski and Toby McMullin. Essendon will be facing up to former star Jake Stringer in Giants colours for the first time. Stringer booted 207 goals in 123 games for the Bombers before seeking a move to GWS last off-season. After a frustrating start to his time in western Sydney, the 31-year-old hit some serious form against Geelong last week with four goals. “I played seven or eight years with some of those guys that have gone down with long-term injuries. My heart goes out to them,” Stringer said of Essendon’s injury crisis. “We won’t be going out Thursday night taking them lightly. “We’ll be going out there thinking they’re full-strength and getting after it.” Interactive: Your side’s path this season Good evening G’day everyone and welcome to our AFL live blog for tonight’s clash between Essendon and GWS Giants at Marvel Stadium. I’m Roy Ward and I’ll be in the blogging chair while Scott Spits will be reporting on the match and offering his analysis. First bounce is set for 7.30pm AEST and we will be going long after the final siren to cover the post game reactions. Enjoy the night to come. 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