Essendon were pathetic on Sunday against a Western Bulldogs outfit that had looked barely VFL level over the first two rounds.
The standard of football being played in the early rounds is high, which only emphasizes the ineptness of teams not up to the mark.
The heat must now be on the Bombers.
Their win against an understrength and underdone Adelaide in Round 1 had merit enough given they lost Zach Merrett to a concussion in the first term, even if they were outplayed for three quarters.
But Essendon’s performances since, against Fremantle and the Dogs, have been inadequate at best and deplorable at worst, especially for a club that considers themselves a finals lock and genuine top four contender. That’s the stuff of dreams right now.
The Bombers have won three individual quarters across the first three rounds, and only one in the last two weeks against a couple of sides that are unlikely to feature in September.
Essendon’s problem is they’re not covering the ground, which was most evident as the Dogs were running rings around them on the outside. This is either through desire, fitness, system, or a combination of all three.
Desire is player driven, and is unacceptable, especially at a club that has not won a final since 2004. The Bomber train has been stopping all stations on the way to mediocrity for 14 years.
Fitness and system are coaching issues. It’s hard to believe aerobic fitness could be an issue at AFL level for any club in this day and age.
As for coaching, John Worsfold has just last week signed a contract extension until the end of 2020, following the current league trend of tying up coaches no-one is chasing. Club hierarchy is obviously convinced there is no flaw there.
(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/AFL Media/Getty Images)
The Dons conceded 101 more uncontested possessions against the Bulldogs, the second worst of any team this year. They conceded 140 uncontested marks, the worst this season by a long way when conceding 100 is considered poor.
Essendon also allowed Fremantle to do as they liked on the outside, as the Dockers kicked and marked their way to victory largely untroubled in the second half, save for a few late goals when the game was over.
The Bombers only laid 43 tackles, the second least behind only the Bulldogs themselves in their limp Round 2 performance.
Only four forward 50 tackles was also the second lowest recorded this year. The league average per team per game is 9.5. The Dons rank 16th.
Interestingly, the bottom four in this stat, the Dogs, Dons, Saints and Cats, have won only one game apiece, and three of them have already been in the media gun for repulsive showings.
Also worth noting is that the last three pairs of grand finalists all ranked top five for inside 50 tackles in the years they played off for the flag. We have also visually seen the game trending the way of pressure in the forward half.
But don’t worry, as written previously Worsfold’s contract has been extended. He obviously knows what he’s doing, despite concerns about him being out of touch with the modern game even in his later years at West Coast.
The losses to Freo and the Dogs looked a respectable enough 16 and 21 points on the scoreboard, but on each occasion, the Dons were down by 33 points in the last term, which is a fairer reflection.
They had best not be thinking they are closer than they are. The internal reviews should be savage.
Looking at who needs to lift, our eyes should go straight to Essendon’s two best players, Joe Daniher and Zach Merrett. It was no coincidence that these two kicked three goals between them in quick time in the third quarter to get the Bombers back in the match.
Daniher took a big step forward last year and was expected to make a bigger leap in 2018. His stats through three games look just okay on paper, but his impact has been negligible.
He’s shown his best in patches only, and small ones at that.
Daniher is 24 years old and has played almost 100 games. The time for inconsistency is over. If he wants to take Lance Franklin’s mantle as the league’s best forward, he should learn from his Sydney counterpart.
(AAP Image/Julian Smith)
Buddy has the spectacular covered, we all know that, but it has been his ultra-consistency that has truly set him apart as the best forward in the competition for over a decade.
Merrett is by far the most damaging outside player at the Bombers and is at his best either breaking lines with speed or breaking up defences with pinpoint passing.
Disregarding Round 1 when he was forced out of the game with a concussion, Merrett has had uncontested possession counts of nine against Fremantle and eight against the Bulldogs.
The last time he failed to reach double figures was Round 14 of 2015, which is 50 games ago for him. Across 2016-17 he averaged 20 uncontested possessions a game.
Taggers aren’t dead, but they are only targeted towards players they can beat. Merrett is currently one of them, and it is costing his team dearly. If he can’t find a way through, with or without the help of teammates, Essendon won’t play finals. You can take that to the bank.
The AFL wheel turns quickly.
A fortnight ago, the Bombers had just beaten a 2017 grand finalist, which appeared to solidify predictions and expectations of a 2018 finals berth.
After Round 3, they’re 13th on the ladder at 1-2, having lost to teams that aren’t currently in the eight, and may not appear there all season. Not only that, they’ve lost both games in the same way, which better teams are even more highly equipped to exploit.
Essendon’s stars are out of form. The coach is unimaginative and behind the times. The team is shaping up as a pretender.
Don Freo
Guest
Not a lot of derenders in that lot Brendon. That's the Port weakness...that and its ruck.
Brendon the 1st
Guest
When Port's form dips? people keep on assuming it will, besides Port still have Motlop, Wingard, both Grays, Polec, Dixon and Marshall in their front half, I think they'll be ok.
1der
Guest
Yes, not much thought by Cam in that comment. Clearly Hurley and Heppell are Essendon's best two with regard to performance and leadership. Daniher has to wipe that grin from his face when he shanks that ball and Merrett has to add the contested side to his game.
Macca
Guest
Col - yeah I saw that, big blow, the kid can't catch a break and we can't seem to keep a half back on the park. On top of that Williamson is still listed as 3-4 weeks away which he was in round 1. M6X6 - a local chef told me the other day he had a smashed avocado sent back to the kitchen because the avocado wasn't smashed enough (this isn't a joke).
Don Freo
Guest
To name Daniher and Merrett as Essendon's 2 best player identifies an issue. Merrett is a good solid player. If he was at Freo, he would be unlikely to be counted in their top 10...certainly not in their top 5. The Dons lack quality.
Ryan Geer
Roar Pro
Out of the three big recruits Devon Smith is the only one who can hold his head high. Jake Stringer and Adam Saad have both being very quiet in this first three games. Stringer is being used as a midfielder which he clearly isn’t, in his best years he was a strong lead up forward that attacked the packs. This is where he should spend most of his time as that third key tall. Midfield only in patches to impose himself and attack the ball. Saad is a devasting running half-back who can break the lines. With young gun Andrew McGrath being pushed more into the midfield it is leaving Saad down back to play as a small lockdown defender which he is not used to and it is taking him away from his natural attacking run and carry game. Smith is averaging 21 disposals a game in more midfield time than he’s ever had before. He attcaks the contest and can tackle hard pressuring the opppistion. Resting forward where he’s played the majority of his career we know he can be dangerous and hit the scoreboard. He’s working his way into a becoming a full time midfielder really well and with this can become one of the better players for the Bombers
Paul D
Roar Guru
Stephen Dank might have us both covered. He had a fridge full of them at windy hill alright i'll see myself out
Paul D
Roar Guru
I remember hearing that and thinking that was the sort of crap Leppa used to pull. It is terrible too - not just because of what they don't get in the forward line but what they lose down back. Still not convinced Essendon wouldn't have done better these past few years then if they'd just left Hooker's magnet welded underneath 'defenders'
Paul D
Roar Guru
If David King was content to stick to the tactics and aim to be the guru of what's going on, out on the field - a sort of footballing Antony Green - then he'd have a career in the media for decades But he insists on trying to write stuff about off the field - and it's dismal. Don't do it David
Dankswonderelixir
Guest
Where's hard to hear Harry, not a word?
Rob
Guest
All port need to do is what Melbourne did for 3 months last year - find someone at least competitive, conceed they'll lose every hit out and plan appropriately... extras running in from the back of the square for example. I imagine sorting this out has been Ports week so far so i find it hard to beleive Essendon will have the same success the lions did.
User
Roar Rookie
ad - its my fave part of any millennial bashing article ie they could afford a mortgage but they blow all their money on smashed avos etc. Don't worry when I was your age it was gen x copping it for being lazy, sooky, can't handle life stuff was being said about it
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
@Matti Well, for once I can't be blamed for this. I don't actually like avocados. And I damn sure aren't gonna drop an extravagant amount of money on breakfast like some of my counterparts.
User
Roar Rookie
Good points macca but no one is talking about the avocado prices and how millenials are affecting my families salads at dinner...
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
Macca, Marchbank out for four weeks really hurts.
User
Roar Rookie
Lol I did, great place to get the relatives mixed up.
Macca
Guest
The secret code type arrangement is making it more difficult to go without one I'll give you that, my wife has one which helps. I know my time is running out where I don't have one but I am dreading the day I have to succumb. One of the big reasons I don't like them was about a decade or so ago when I was in my last couple of years of competitive sport and a lot of the players I was playing with were much younger I got really sick of being at a club function or down the pub after a game and everyone was on the mobile or texting rather than interacting with the person right in front of them. I also have no idea why they had to take a photo of what they were doing and post it, when I was there age I did everything I could to stop my folks knowing what I was doing on a Saturday night and hear they were publicising it.
Aransan
Guest
Macca, there are three items difficult to do without in the modern world -- a drivers licence (or equivalent), a credit card and a mobile phone. My simple mobile is on a $30 six month plan (Vodaphone has a $30 one year plan), I turn it on for a couple of minutes in the morning and for a couple of minutes in the evening, especially to see if someone has sent me an sms asking to confirm an appointment. Occasionally I have to use it for a secret code number sent by sms for security purposes. If someone makes the mistake of trying to ring me they are directed to ring our landline. I don't carry a mobile phone with me, I have a second phone which I keep in the glove box of my car in case of an emergency. I agree with you about social media, it just chops your time up into tiny pieces.
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
It was the jumper Paul was wearing in his photo that made him look good?
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
we will see soon enough truetiger! For me, I'm getting on the Pies now.