AAMI Practice Match Review: Essendon vs Carlton — SuperCoach 2026 Takeaways
Two clubs with different rebuilding timelines collided at Marvel Stadium, and the result was one of the more instructive pre-season games for SuperCoach coaches. Essendon edged Carlton 13.11 (89) to 12.9 (81) in a match that produced a string of role-confirmation signals worth tracking carefully.
The Match in 60 Seconds
Zach Merrett controlled the midfield for most of the day — 31 disposals and 6 clearances suggests another 100+ average season is brewing. But the subplot that matters for your team is below the premium tier. Zak Johnson's midfield minutes. Harry O'Farrell's defensive reading. Jagga Smith's cautious but encouraging return.
Carlton led by 12 at three-quarter time before Essendon kicked four of the last five goals, with Dylan Shiel (3 clearances in the final term) providing the run late.
Three Players to Watch for Round 1
1. Zak Johnson (MID, $204,400) — Essendon
The numbers: 16 disposals, 4 clearances. First competitive game of 2026.
The second-year case for Johnson starts here. Four clearances from a player averaging 51 last year suggests the contested ball profile is real — he earns his possessions by competing, not by finding soft ball. At $204,400, the pricing assumes he continues averaging around 51. If he lifts to 65-70, you're looking at a $400k player bought at basement-adjacent price.
The risk is job security. Merrett (31 disposals today), Jordan Ridley (22), and Dylan Shiel make Essendon's midfield crowded. But Johnson played genuine inside time — he wasn't used as a wing filler.
Verdict: Speculative buy. The value is enormous if the role stays. Monitor team sheets closely.
2. Harry O'Farrell (DEF, $249,100) — Carlton
The numbers: 12 disposals, 9 intercept possessions. Quiet but efficient.
Here's the thing about O'Farrell's stat line — 9 intercept possessions from 12 disposals is an elite ratio. He's not a fill-up-the-kick-counter defender. He reads the game, positions himself ahead of the contest, and takes the intercept mark. Every mark is a free kick, every free kick adds to the score. The totals will look modest but the scoring output is consistent.
Carlton's backline lost depth in the offseason and O'Farrell is one of the certainties in that structure. His job security is high. His floor is solid.
Verdict: Buy. Reliable D4/D5 who accumulates SuperCoach points through position, not volume.
3. Jagga Smith (MID/FWD, $384,000) — Carlton
The numbers: 15 disposals in managed 55% time on ground.
Smith's ACL return continues at a carefully controlled pace. Fifteen touches in limited time is encouraging — more importantly, there was no visual hesitancy you sometimes see from players returning from knee reconstructions. He moved freely, committed to contests, and distributed cleanly.
Carlton are managing him through the pre-season to ensure he's at full capacity for Opening Round. If they open him up next week, the value case starts to crystallise rapidly.
Verdict: Monitor. If he gets 70%+ TOG in the AAMI Series and produces, he becomes one of the safest value plays in the competition.
Other SuperCoach Notes
- Zach Merrett (MID, Essendon): 31 disposals, 6 clearances. Is there a safer premium MID than Merrett in 2026? Consistent performer who delivers regardless of the week.
- Jordan Ridley (DEF, Essendon): 22 disposals as a rebounding defender. Reliable set-and-forget DEF option.
- Sam Walsh (MID, Carlton): 25 disposals. Walsh after his contract renewal is playing with visible motivation — watch for a career-best year.
- Patrick Cripps (MID, Carlton): 19 disposals. The captain leads from the front. Reliable but the ceiling is capped.
- Elijah Hollands (FWD, Carlton): 1 goal, 9 disposals. The delisted Gold Coast forward is pressing his claim for a regular Carlton spot.
Injury Watch
| Player | Club | Issue | R1 Impact | |--------|------|-------|-----------| | Jacob Weitering | Carlton | Managed | Expected fit — Opening Round | | Andrew Phillips | Essendon | Shoulder | Monitor | | Jagga Smith | Carlton | ACL recovery (managed) | On track — conservative loading |
The Bottom Line
Three stories from this match. Merrett confirmed his status as the most reliable premium MID in Essendon's rebuild era. O'Farrell confirmed he's the stealthy DEF value play — not flashy, but consistently accumulating. And Smith confirmed the ACL comeback is on track.
Johnson's four clearances in a genuinely contested midfield situation is the number that excites most. If he maintains that role through the AAMI Series, the second-year leap from 51 to 65+ becomes a realistic projection — and at $204,400, that profit margin is significant.
-AG
For more pre-season analysis, see our Rookie Power Rankings Traffic Light Guide and the AAMI Community Series wrap.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zak Johnson a good SuperCoach pick for Essendon in 2026?+
Johnson gathered 16 disposals and 4 clearances in his first competitive game of the year — a positive sign for his midfield role. The concern is the depth around him (Merrett, Ridley, Parish) but on this evidence he'll get his minutes. At $204,400 he's priced for a second-year leap.
How did Harry O'Farrell look for Carlton in the practice match?+
O'Farrell played the full game off half-back and was outstanding in the intercept role — 9 intercept possessions from 12 touches. That ratio is elite. He doesn't need to rack up disposals; he reads the game and marks in the right place. At $249,100, the scoring floor is solid.
Is Jagga Smith worth picking in SuperCoach after his ACL return?+
Smith was managed carefully — 15 disposals in 55% time on ground — but the quality was obvious. Clean hands, direct skills, and no signs of psychological hesitancy. Carlton are being cautious but the talent is undeniable. He's a genuine value play if they open him up in the AAMI Series.
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