John Worsfold came into a club on its knees in 2016.
He had come to take the mantle of head coach of a historic if wayward football club at Essendon.
In his time at the Bombers, he has led the club to two finals series, albeit both elimination finals upon which far too much significance is placed. This can only be classified as a success given the proximity to the tumult of the 2012-2016 period, and the subsequent ban of 34 past and present players.
It has been said that Worsfold is a coach who does not emote enough in front of his players, it has been said that the Essendon game style does not suit the modern game, and it has been said that Essendon lose the key performance areas that would otherwise derail a team.
I say each of these characteristics is both a bane and a boon.
Worsfold’s calm demeanour bordering on stoicism gives the outward impression that his players can still win the game. His game style, while different, can be viciously effective as other teams do not know how to react to a back half game style. Whilst the loss of certain statistics such as ground ball gets, contested possessions and contested marks is an indictment on the coaching staff, it is not the be all and end all of a football team.
Worsfold has done several things right. He has imbued his team with a never-say-die attitude, taught his players to manoeuvre with dash and dare, and plays a brand of football that is pleasing to the eye, if not so much for the heart.
(AAP Image/Julian Smith)
In 2019, he found himself in the unenviable position of dealing with a mounting injury list, media speculation around his job security, and rumour-mongering about players leaving. However, Essendon still made their second finals series in three years and they did this without the past two winners of the Crichton Medal.
However, it must be acknowledged that Worsfold can be far too one-note with his attacking style of play, and players do not know how to lock the ball in the forward half of the ground.
Players such as Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Irving Mosquito and Orazio Fantasia are all attacking the ball at pace and have taken steps forward this year. Additionally, the injury concerns regarding players such as Joe Daniher or Devon Smith made it impossible for Essendon to get their best 22 on the park day in and day out.
With Essendon’s best 22 players on the park, they can go deep into September next year with an equal balance of smalls and talls in the forward line.
With the retirements of several players, a new dawn is upon the Essendon Football Club.
We have players taking drastic steps forward such as Dylan Clarke, Mason Redman and Aaron Francis, all of whom have their best football ahead of them.
We have players at the peak of their powers eager to tear the competition apart with exciting play and winning the football.
We also have a coach with a relaxed demeanour who clearly has the respect of his players and will only continue to get the best out of his players in future.
In 2020, Essendon has the opportunity to achieve something special – to go forward boldly and not give an inch.
Charlie
Roar Rookie
I dont think they have too much of a leadership crisis, at least, not as much as you say. Like Heppell is a different style of leader, he's much more relaxed and quiet frankly looks like a bit of a dope. But I do think they have a lot of options for who can succeed Heppell, like Hurley, or Merrett or Shiel even after a couple years. Presuming Daniher stays he's a viable option for captain.
Charlie
Roar Rookie
Yeah he has said he is "taking time away from the club", but I think the most important thing for Essendon is that they keep Daniher, if there is a debate between the Danihers and Woosha they should oust Woosha.
Tezza knows
Roar Rookie
Essendon’s problems begin with lack of leadership on the ground. Heppell doesn’t inspire, wanders all over the ground without direction, not a good look as a captain . I dont doubt for a minute his efforts, but there is a problem there. I think he needs to play forward or back, probably back, as he lacks sufficient leg speed. In any event, a positional change will refresh him. In 2020 perhaps the support team of 24 coaches can consider what I have said. The possible captaincy replacement is Hurley who is slow, tired and also lacking in energy. No one else comes to mind as captain. Hooker looks very slow to me too and is not a game changer type. Tipungwuti does SOME good things but is too small and possessions are on the low side; he’s an overrated player. Stringer is poor for a lot of the time, don’t rate him highly. Players like Laverde and Fantasia who have talent, look lost in many games, again an on and off the ground leadership problem. These are just some observations about the Essendon list. I wrote another post where I said that on the telly I saw am image of Worsfold’s support group. I could not believe that it showed Woosha has a support group of 24!! If that’s true, the club’s cooked for a while. No wonder they look like they can’t play a 100 minutes .. too much advice from too many. Woosha should be pressured by the media to talk about the 24 support group. Underneath it all, Woosha has the strong blood line of WA in him. Perhaps, perhaps he will be announced as the Freo coach. All I know is there is an on the ground leadership problem, and off the ground they need to cull .. a lot. The more I reflect, maybe Joe D sees the mess I see?
Tezza knows
Roar Rookie
I just think that the Danihers are an influencial family with all the boys having played there. They want to exert influence. Funnily enough Joe stated today (or was it yesterday) that he is going to ‘ stand down indefinitely ‘ . That’s code to say the family and other Essendon influential stalwarts won’t accept CEO decision to retain Worsfold. A One year appointnent is treading water to them.It’s very odd for Daniher to ‘stand down’, isn’t it?. … that’s why my name is ” Tezza’s profound footy wisdom.. Tezza knows
Charlie
Roar Rookie
Hmmm thats an interesting look, do you know why the Daniher clan aren't big fans of Worsfold? I dont think Essendon will let him go this year as the Swans will need a god father offer to begin with.
Jack A
Guest
Cats CEO Brian Cook was on Damien Barrett’s “In the Game” podcast, and he said that the drug culture at WC most likely developed under his tenure and that he wasn’t aware of it. Cook is an incredibly astute operator that would have made a great AFL CEO, yet he didn’t have a clue. Cook also said that he had heard rumours about Bomber Thompson while he was coach of the Cats and that an intervention was arranged, only for Bomber to deny that he took drugs or had any challenges. Cook said that he had to believe Bomber because he didn’t have evidence to the contrary. Likewise, Cousins was confronted multiple times by Worsfold, Nisbett and others, and he denied it every time - he never tested positive, he was the captain and an incredible player. Cousins used to party primarily in the off-season and that was it for the early years, with the odd exception. It was only very late in his tenure at WC that his addiction began to take control of daily life. The club, including Worsfold believed Cousins at the time, just like Cook believed Bomber. With the benefit of hindsight, it’s very easy to look back 15-19 years ago and question why they didn’t do more at both clubs, but none of the clubs were as prepared, experienced and resourced in the areas of prevention, detection and mental health as they are today. On Open Mike, Chris Judd said that Woosha is the “most honest man in Australia’. David Parkin said that it’s hard to find a better man in football than Woosha. He is as honest as the day is long which is one reason why he is so highly respected by people that know him and are in the know. Woosha and WC simply didn’t know and even if they had suspicions, which they did, they didn’t have enough evidence to act. A man must remain innocent until proven guilty, that’s a basic human right. Cousins and Bomber denied the allegations to their superiors faces, and there simply wasn’t sufficient evidence to the contrary. Most addicts are excellent liars. WC chose to go down the path of a club wide review and cultural rebuild, no stone was left unturned, both on and off-field. Nisbett and Worsfold oversaw the cultural rebuild with the help of WC board member and former Chief of the SAS James McMahon, who Phil Walsh named as his mentor while he was at WC. Woosha was also Walsh’s mentor. The rebuild wasn’t lip service, or painting over the cracks. They did it the right way and look at the club today. WC and Woosha was on record during those years, saying that wins and losses are secondary. We are setting the foundation for sustained success. That’s the year WC won their first spoon, people were calling for him to be sacked. Similar to today, he told them that the list and club is in a good position and to be patient - the next year Woosha took them to the prelim. Woosha resigned from WC a year later because he is super-honest, and he always said that if he couldn’t give 100% to the role he would step back and that’s exactly what he did, (there were personal issues behind that decision). Woosha handed Adam Simpson the keys to a very strong club and list and to Simmo’s credit he’s done a fantastic job building on it. When Worsfold says that he is 100% confident in his ability, commitment and the work that he has done at the Bombers people better believe him, he would resign if it wasn’t true.
Tezza knows
Roar Rookie
The Essendon problem is about conspiracy. I'll go directly to the point. The Daniher family and those Essebdonnclose to them believe that Worsfold must go.. I don't, but such is the sinister plot by this group that Joe Daniher has been put up as wanting out. This strategy is a signal to the club that if Worsfold won't go, Joe Daniher will. I don't think Joe Daniher wants to go at all, there is a lot of emotion with the Danihers and this is the plotting going on. This is a very substantive indicator of what's wrong at Essendon. I think this group will challenge the CEO even though he said very categorically Worsfold will coach Essendon in 2020. The CEO is hitting back at the destabilising Daniher group.. good on him. The second thing wrong with the club is the captaincy. Heppell doesn't inspire and seems to struggle, and the team doesn't seem to have a replacement. Hurley might look an obvious leader and would be, but he looks tired and/¹or injured and slow. Somewhat ditto for Hooker. Not long ago I saw a video or a photo of Worsfold's team. There seemed to be about 24 of them; if that's true or remotely close to the truth, it's ridiculous, and explains why the club will never improve. If Joe Daniher goes, it will be destabilise the club, and you can forget Essendon in 2020 and 2021
Charlie
Roar Rookie
Also he led West Coast to three of their four premierships, while I think he also ably led a club in disarray through that tumultuous period (cousins, and kerr and that lot were on the drugs wayyyy too much).
Charlie
Roar Rookie
I do think the thing is we need to start looking at combining the half back slingshot with some other tactics, we have been far too one paced, and to a certain extent our defenders have not been accountable to their man. But if we could say teach McKenna how to kick short, or get Redman or Ridley working as a viable midfield/wing option I think things will start to look up next year.
Jack A
Guest
Worsfold didn’t win a final in his first 3 seasons at WC after taking them into 3 consecutive finals campaigns. The next year they played in the GF and the year after they won the flag. Some sections of the media just want blood and some fans don’t have a clue. It’s great to see that the Dons have backed Woosha for 2020.
Unknown Quantity
Roar Rookie
Worsfold and Essendon seem hell-bent on sticking with their unconventional scoring off the half-back, whether or not you think the Bombers should stick by Woosha comes down to whether or not you think its a viable game plan. Its been going on for years and he isn't changing. Do we think Essendon is going to compete next year? If the answer is no when their list is in prime contention age, then what are they doing? Treading water? Freo identified 2020 was going to be a nothing season, I think the bombers should realise the same.
Charlie
Guest
Agreed, we paid overs for Shiel and while I think he’s done a good job he hasn’t set the world on fire, we should have demanded that gws give us this years first round pick line Carlton did last year
Maxine
Guest
I think The Bombers should look at the recruiting department before the coach. Every year we hear how they win all their trades,but they are not winning finals. I feel they tend to go after the wrong players,a B or C grade inside mid and maybe a ruckman,and back up ruckman would be of more benefit than all the flankers they tend to get. Might not get as much off season fanfare,but who cares,it's the inseason that matters. Fair season overall though.
Charlie
Roar Rookie
Because the media is a self fulfilling prophecy, they need drama and a narrative to keep things going even through the off season.
Charlie
Roar Rookie
Hmmm I think Ellis would be an interesting addition, I think we need a more mobile ruckman, and someone thats a little more effective around the ground. I also think that if Daniher, and Smith remain on the park we should put in a good innings next year, and winning a final is a good pass mark.
Cracka
Roar Rookie
Good article Charlie. Looking at the move of Blake Caracella to the Bombers it tells me that the pressure on Worsfold will be huge in 2020 to get the best out of his side, I’m not 100% sold on the Essendon list so I think they will look at bring in more experience to their side through the draft period. With Joe Daniher and Devon Smith healthy and fit back in their side they will be a better balanced side and maybe adding Brandon Ellis to their backline through the trade period and or Jack Martin may improve them offensively. I think a healthy, fit Essendon will make the finals again in 2020.
Aransan
Roar Rookie
Congratulations on a good article Charlie. The media love controversy and there will be many pickings in 2020 with Worsfold in his last year of contract. Why can't coaches and players serve out their contracts without the media getting excited?