Well, that was rather disheartening.
The Bombers have largely punched above their weight division in matches this year. But the war of attrition has set into the AFL in a big way, and with the youth of the Bombers, they were always going to feel the attrition of the AFL season far more acutely than their contemporaries.
Read on for my takeaways from the Round 16 loss by Essendon against Geelong.
Inside-50 dominance but poor ball movement
Essendon did have moments of dominance on Friday night, and their efforts showed in the inside-50 count for the Bombers.
They won this statistic 62-45 against a red-hot Geelong outfit yet Essendon still lost the game by 41 points. In fact, there was a stretch of play in the second quarter when Geelong was able to get 12 inside 50s and they were able to convert them into eight goals.
This is attributable to two factors. One is the ruthlessness with which the Cats dispatched the Bombers. The other factor was the decisions surrounding the match-ups around the three-pronged key forward attack for the Geelong Cats.
Typically, I have been glowing in my assessment of the Bombers’ back line this year, and despite the strength of Jordan Ridley in the air the Essendon back line failed to gel, enabling the Cats to have free run at the ball to convert their inside 50s into goals.
(Photo by Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/Getty Images)
Finally the other aspect of the game that was prominent was the inconsistent defence of the ball in transition. The Bombers failed to lock the ball in their half of the ground resulting in a deluge of low-quality inside-50 entries making for difficult shots on goal.
It meant the Bombers had to rely on the individual exploits of players like Jake Stringer to get their goals rather than any method. The Bombers need to increase their poise around the ball, and ensure they lower their eyes and avoid kicking it high and on top of Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti’s head.
Bombers young jets look tired
The Bombers had eight players on Friday who recorded fewer than ten disposals across the entirety of the game. It was a list of players dominated by the new faces of the baby Bombers: Brayden Ham, Nik Cox, Archie Perkins, and Harry Jones all chief among them.
Some players like Cox have had down periods across the last few weeks while Archie Perkins looked gassed in the middle of the fourth quarter. The only player who has any vague justification for their poor performance is Harry Jones as the conditions did not suit key forwards, nor did he allow the conditions to limit his efforts without the ball as he recorded five tackles and a goal.
I don’t want this to sound too negative as I have been ecstatic with the Bombers’ performance this year, and they’re still teenagers who will work these flaws out of their game. However, the Bombers need to think about resting some players particularly to avoid the risk of long-term injuries.
The prospect of swapping players out raises the question, do the Bombers have the depth in their VFL side to compensate for them?
The previous three VFL games would indicate that they do not as they’ve been hammered by Box Hill, Casey, and Geelong. However, it’s not all doom and gloom as the Bombers do have senior depth with players like Martin Gleeson, Dylan Clarke and David Zaharakis all featuring prominently at VFL level.
Whereas if they wish to bring in more youth, Sam Durham and Nick Bryan both have played some very good footy at the lower level.
Phenomenal Parish and scintillating Stringer
This column is not about the doom and gloom of the current trajectory of the Bombers’ 2021 season. It’s about my opinion about how the Bombers are developing and how they went that week.
My Bombers were predicted to be a bottom-four fixture, and they pushed a side that will be at the pointy end of the fixture come September. While the Bombers were unable to get the win, it was a valuable learning experience for the young Bombers.
Darcy Parish is putting in a record-breaking performance this year in the Bombers’ engine room and it’s almost like when you put a midfielder in the midfield they thrive. He had 43 disposals, 28 contested possessions (a record, the previous was 22), and 13 clearances (one shy of the previous record for the Bombers).
This was the third performance of 40 or more disposals by Darcy Parish and the 13th in Essendon history (four of those performances have been this year).
(Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Jake Stringer is a mercurial one. With the prospect of a new contract hanging over his head, he has put in three consecutive master classes, providing a point of difference to the Bombers’ forward line and midfield. It was his third consecutive performance of 20 or more disposals, and he also kicked a goal in each of those matches.
After the Hawthorn game I said Stringer would soon justify the four-year deal. However, I am starting to think that a hungry Stringer is a good Stringer and I’m willing to sacrifice a larger chunk of the salary cap for Stringer to sign year-long extensions.
Best on ground
6. James Stewart (two votes)
5. Will Snelling (nine votes)
4. Dyson Heppell (16 votes) and Jordan Ridley (12 votes)
3. Zach Merrett (48 votes)
2. Jake Stringer (28 votes)
1. Darcy Parish (51 votes)
Leaderboard
Darcy Parish (51)
Zach Merrett (48)
Jake Stringer (28)
Well, there you have it folks. I hope you enjoyed reading my extremely parochial take on the Round 16 clash between the Bombers and the Cats.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
35 disposals a match in vfl means OKierney may be well worth it James
JamesH
Roar Guru
Ah I thought you meant McBride because he’s AFL listed. O’Kearney is only VFL listed. There was some talk we might offer him a spot in the mid-season draft but that never eventuated. A rookie spot at the end of the year might be on the cards.
adhitya0710
Roar Rookie
Biggest concern from the weekend was how tired some of the players looked. Cox took more than a quarter to get his hands on the ball. I rate Archie very very highly but he looks tired too, he needs more muscle to play in the role that he is doing right now, he gets tackled a little too often (we can put some of it down to fatigue too). Jonesy did his best but this is one of his first proper games in wet conditions, he would have learnt his lessons. How much ever we love seeing these kids playing week in week out, I don't think it is fair on our part to expect them produce their best-game every week, their bodies need much more time to get used to such rigour. Apart from our young guns, Chooksy really needs a week off. He was crawling in the fourth quarter. He has exceeded all expectations this year with 30-goal haul but he is running out of steam. Truck should look to give one of the next two 2 weekends off. Truck & co have been credited for bringing Hindy back to life by playing him at half-back but I think we are not using one of his biggest strengths, his raw pace. I think Truck threw him forward against Tiges which led to Bombers taking the lead, his contribution was significant. Against a Cats defence which is not known for speed, Truck could have thrown Hindy forward for a quarter which would have pushed the defenders back a bit.
adhitya0710
Roar Rookie
Don't think Esava is the right option. He is an average forward. He had a good run in the forward line in 2019 and failed to capitalize on it. Even this year, with Stanley out for so long, he couldn't make the ruckman spot his own.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Cats have got away with murder for years with that home ground advantage out their at geelong
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Actually guys it was mctierney that racked up 33 disposals he may be a decent find and no one mentioning him . Scroll down to end of article. http://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/970211/vfl-bombers-outclassed-by-cats
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Maybe just get another first round pick for shiels and a deeper pick and try find two decent players with two first round picks including a forward
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
yep the cats have a massive advantage in their ridiculously cold and skinny ground. Its 28 metres skinnier than the MCG at their widest point (140 meters vs 112 meters), its clearly an oval that is not up to AFL standards.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Yeah but you're gonna get beaten while you're learning a position. Stewart is aggressive on the ball, and we don't really have anyone else that can take the two metre behemoths. He was found out on the weekend against Cameron and hawkins but both of them were aided by extremely suspect umpiring.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
I hope not we really shouldn't use a first round selection on him. Yes I understand that key forwards don't grow on trees but he hasn't shown enough to warrant such a selection. As the boys on the AFL exchange podcast said the reason he had 20 disposals and three goals last weekend was because he was rotating through the ruck.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
I'd say zkaharkais and guelfi in for cox and ham and what about taking a flier on McBride for Cutler who has to be omitted
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Probably keep Stewart there as what option do we have besides ambrose who isn't being considered down back for some reason unknown to me and Francis clearly has some.mental pain going on . I hope he gets through it he's talented and an asset and better than zerk thatcher back there
Pierro
Roar Rookie
No doubt we will go better on a dry track , adeliade have been very close on scorelines last few matches and paying better hope we come off the geelong game in time. think we can get it done though it might be close . On a bright note how good are ridley Merritt stringer and parish . I didn't think Redman was so good against geelong but he was playing very well before that match.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Smith so costly against Melbourne not mention the umpire not seeding us an obvious holding the ball free for all to see last quarter right in front of goal .those two errors so sloppy and cost us 12 points the match !!
Pierro
Roar Rookie
I think ham has upside but pretty poor two games ago and awful against Melbourne giving away frees and running in with no compusre or thought . Guelfi is a hot head too but a feeling he would have handled the wet and has a high work rate. Not sure rutten thinks though wet conditions much as he should
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Thankfully we are playing marvel this week so there’s no excuse haha. I think Stewart matches up well on Thillthorpe so that’s good for us, I don’t think Francis matches up very well on Thillthorpe.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Shame he had bad injuries may not get contract renewed I have a feeling he'd slot in to a team that's struggling quite well tho if fit he's a very good defender at best
Pierro
Roar Rookie
I heard weideman from Melbourne is the target but not sure . Use a first draft for him ? Shame we couldn't get harry McKay he would have been perfect . Hird spotted lunching with Toby Greene too whose a die hard bomber fan but he's signed as captain on an extension at gws recently . One suggestion is let go of shiels this summer for another first round pick
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Aransan especially In wet conditions like Brisbane or geelong match , hooker and two metre peter don't work and the kids really struggle to get used to wet conditions compared to the experienced cats . Parish form geelong relished the wet conditions and Merritt plays them we'll. I thought Perkins got in to game a bit more as it went on but harry Jones struggled in it alot more and cox really looks pooped . Guys like Cutler and ham were nonexistent or terrible in it. Not tippas greatest game either . Rutten needs to watch tall defenders over marking tippa
Pierro
Roar Rookie
I'd say zhakarakis for ham although I think Zak's time is up end of year sadly for me he should be let go despite his great service to the club he's been a bit ineffective for a few years now depsite the odd brilliant game . Shiels may be two to three matches away with any luck and he can take coxs position on wing m if we ay under roof at some the dry conditions will suit us but Cutler was non existent he has to go and ham committed terrible errors (he's had a few good games earlier ) what was clear to me is ham , cox , and the other two kids struggled in the wet and hooker and wright looked way to slow to the ball in the wet. Rutten needs to think long and hard if we get another swimming pool game like the one against Brisbane or the cats as certain players don't work for us in the wet and the kids lack of experience in wet conditions really shows