Is it time for Essendon to unleash the “unluckiest player the competition last year”?

Josh Jenkins believes Essendon simply must play ruckman Nick Bryan in 2025 and prioritise his development.

The former Adelaide star, who recently spent time as a part-time ruck coach at Geelong, labelled the 23-year-old the “unluckiest player the competition” in 2024, given he was limited to just five games.

“They need to keep playing Nick Bryan. I called him the unluckiest player in the competition last year,” Jenkins told SEN’s The Run Home.

“He played five AFL games, he had 15 disposals, 15 disposals, 13 and 10 and then he was subbed out in the other match where he’d had eight.

“He laid three tackles per game, three clearances per game and 20 hit-outs per game.

“So when he had the opportunity - and he was playing alongside another ruckman so he wasn’t getting the lion's share of the opportunities in the ruck - he looked good.

“(Sam) Draper is yet to take that role by the scruff of the neck. He’s yet to show me anyway that he can be a 90 per cent ruckman, and Todd Goldstein is Todd Goldstein. Sensational backup, great leader to have around the footy club, but I think they just have to play Nick Bryan.”

Jenkins believes Bryan should be the priority for Brad Scott over the 36-year-old Goldstein.

“He should be Bryan’s back-up probably,” Jenkins said.

“He might get you closer to a win from week to week than Bryan does, but it’s marginal. Goldy’s not going to take over a game and be the reason you win a game at this point in his career.

“I think they just need to keep playing Nick Bryan.”

Essendon will play the Western Bulldogs in an unofficial match simulation on February 15 at Whitten Oval before their AAMI Community Series match against Geelong at GMHBA Stadium on February 25.

The Bombers kick off their 2025 season against Gold Coast at People First Stadium on March 8.