After registering a 3-1 start to the 2023 season, defender Mason Redman says Essendon are ready to prove themselves amongst some of the AFL’s premier teams.

Having recorded wins over Hawthorn, Gold Coast and GWS, the Dons will face three of last year’s top four over the next several weeks, with clashes against Melbourne, Collingwood and Geelong to come.

While happy with the solid start to the season, Redman says the Bombers will embrace the litmus test against some of the competition’s best.

“To start the year 3-1, it’s a good building block. Hopefully we can take that into the next month,” Redman said.

“We haven’t versed any team that made the finals last year, so Melbourne’s the first one that we’ll attack this week, then Collingwood and Geelong after that.

“It’ll be a good test for us coming into the next month so we’re really looking forward to it.”

One area of Essendon’s game which will be pivotal in competing against good opposition sides is its team defence.  

After four rounds, the Bombers are currently averaging 78 points per game, a marked improvement from their 94-point average last season.

It’s this aspect which Redman has been pleased with in the initial part of this year but says will have to continue improving if the Dons are to keep heading in an upward trajectory.

“I feel like we were able to force a few forward half turnovers (against GWS) which was really pleasing and we’ve worked on a lot,” Redman said.

“It’s pleasing to start the year 3-1 instead of 1-3, but it means nothing if we don’t go on with it now.

“I feel as though the group is growing in belief, we’re getting better and better each week in defending and I think that’s where the game starts.

“I think that’s the modern game in getting the ball back in the forward half, so hopefully we can keep doing that and building from what we’ve been able to start the year off.”