“He’s the one”: The significant impact of Essendon’s returning Ridley

David King was buoyed by what he saw from Essendon’s Jordan Ridley on the weekend.

After missing the club’s first 10 games of the 2024 season with an initial quad injury and subsequent aggravation, Ridley returned for Saturday night’s Dreamtime clash with Richmond.

The 25-year-old won the Yiooken Award as best on ground in the Bombers’ 12-point win, picking up 31 disposals, taking 12 marks, having 14 intercepts, and a massive 759 metres gained.

As well as his own contributions, the positioning of Ridley allowed the Dons to not rely on Ben McKay so much from an intercept viewpoint, and it worked a treat as they took 22 intercept marks - their equal best result for the year.

King spoke glowingly of the returning Ridley who was able to impact so strongly for a team already sitting second on the ladder.

“I want to talk about the ‘And One Effect’,” King said on SEN Breakfast.

“Just adding one player in of significance. Not the role player changes or young players coming in.

“When you see what Essendon were able to get out of Jordan Ridley coming back. Essendon fans know what this guy is, they know the levels that he’s been at over the last couple of years. He’s been banged up by injury the last 12 months or so.

“He’s the one. He is the one they’ve been waiting for.

“Everyone talks at Essendon about his influence in the 2020 season, where he was best and fairest, and his 2022 season. He was just a dominant force playing on players that were too big for him and still playing well.

“Now he’s in his natural position. The ‘And One Effect’ is huge. They had their best intercept game for a long time and it wasn’t on the back of Ben McKay.

“This is terrific. Your prime defender can just defend. If he has to win the ball back for you, well he can, we know he’s capable. Then the intercept game goes to Jayden Laverde and Ridley. That’s exactly how it should be.

“They’re winning the ball at half-back rather than full-back. It’s a different game when you’re doing that. You’re almost attacking straight away.

“The intercept is in an offensive gearing, not saving the game in defence.”

Ridley’s presence, which included eight intercept marks, allowed Mason Redman (24 disposals, six intercept marks) and Jayden Laverde (season-highs with 21 disposals and seven rebound 50s) to also impact greatly in defence.

The Dons, with Ridley back in tow, will take their 8-1-2 record to Gold Coast to take on the Suns on Sunday in Round 12.