“Essendon are gone”: AFL great believes Fremantle will smash the Dons on Sunday

Melbourne champion David Schwarz has put a line through Essendon’s 2024 hopes.

The Bombers have fallen quickly down the ladder after a strong start to the season, with Round 19s 53-point loss to St Kilda looking like the flashpoint.

Essendon faces the red-hot Fremantle on Sunday afternoon at the MCG and Schwarz is expecting a blowout.

“This will be a percentage booster for Fremantle,” Schwarz told SEN WA Breakfast.

“Essendon are gone. They are absolutely gone. Take to the bank, Fremantle wins and it will be eight goals plus.

“It was fool’s gold really. They probably had a soft draw and they’ve finished down the bottom and got looked after.

“I think we all got fooled and thought they were a little bit better. I think sides have worked them out. You shut down Zach Merrett and you shut them down and some of those older players are running out of steam in a big way.

“Essendon will miss the eight. I’m pretty confident they won’t be playing finals.”

The Bombers have lost four of their last five and slid from the top four to outside the top eight, with the Dockers, Suns, Swans and Lions to come.