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Opinion
The Bombers play an entertaining brand of football.
That is shown by their ability to continually be in contests, whilst also kicking big scores.
However, the downside of Essendon’s game style is they have also conceded massive scores. Read on for my takeaways from the Bombers’ clash with the Swans in Round 20.
Medi-sub machinations
In perhaps the most head scratching decision of the season, Essendon ran out of rotations off the bench with nearly five minutes remaining on the clock.
To add insult to injury, the offensive grunt that was left on the bench deprived the Bombers of some much-needed forward impetus.
It was a rookie mistake from a rookie coach and emblematic of many decisions made on Sunday afternoon. In a desperate manoeuvre to provide additional run to the midfield, the Bombers activated their medi-sub in Brayden Ham, effectively giving them 76 of 75 rotations.
It is another episode in how poorly thought out the medi-sub rule is by the AFL.
The machinations surrounding the interchange also indicate a need to improve the match day tactics and nous of the coaching department.
I genuinely believe finals are irrelevant to Ben Rutten at this point; he is tinkering like Claudio Ranieri at Leicester City to find out the talent he has available on the list.
He has brought in players like Dylan Clarke to give him a much-needed run at the ball, showing why he should play AFL level.
Rutten has also given an extended run to Tom Cutler, and his faith has been rewarded somewhat with Cutler kicking a magnificent goal from outside 50.
I believe that Truck is giving every player, particularly if they’re heading out of contract this year, the chance to show the Bombers coaching panel that they’re worthy of another contract.
A dangerous midfield
The Bombers of the modern era have not been known for their midfield prowess.
In the ’90s and early noughties, it was the big bullocking exploits of Matthew Lloyd and Scott Lucas that drove the Bombers to their ultimate glory, while in the dark days of the mid-noughties, the Bombers still lacked a solid midfield brigade.
However, with the development of players such as Darcy Parish, Jye Caldwell and Andrew McGrath, the Bombers are putting together a solid and explosive midfield.
(Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Additionally, with the continued growth of players like Zach Merrett and Kyle Langford, the Bombers have been able to create an exceptionally ominous midfield.
Merrett was a titan for Essendon in the guts with two goals (including his 50th career goal), 35 disposals, four goal assists and 13 score involvements.
He showed that with the inclusion of more midfielders into the Essendon line-up, it gives him greater license to get off the chain and score goals, as well as provide his intelligent ball use going inside 50.
The other factor in the dangerous midfield is the steady inclusion of injured players such as Dylan Shiel and Jye Caldwell that warms the cockles of my cold, dead heart.
He may not get back to the solid exploits he had in the first part of his career at Essendon but it is his ability to misdirect the opposition and take the opponents’ best target in the midfield.
Shiel is a Ferrari for the Bombers and he moves smoothly through the side that has at times appeared all-too-blue collar.
With the young jets in Sam Durham, Archie Perkins and Nik Cox, they will all develop more effectively knowing that Shiel is on the ground showing them how to become an efficient mover.
Essendon’s Archie Perkins (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Dumbfounding defensive decisions
I would have thought that I would have had to write this after yet another week of Lance Franklin dominating his fixture with us.
However, thanks to the cameo from Jaiden Laverde whose positioning and intercept marking finally makes him appear to be a footballer worthy of the first-round capital that was expended on him in 2014, that wasn’t the case.
The player I am referring to is the decision to play Jordan Ridley on Tom Papley. Papley is heavily pressing his case for the small forward position in the All Australian side, and Sunday was no exception, with a further four goals.
Ridley was too strong and too tall for Papley as he went on a merry jig on his way to four goals. Ridley needs to play on the worst side an opposition side has so he can easily peel off and intercept the ball.
The Bombers are missing their Mark Baguely style of player that can lockdown a smaller player.
I guess they could develop Mason Redman, or Matt Guelfi in this role, however, each of these players have been in the system too long, and you will have to teach them to unlearn their habits that they’ve developed as unaccountable half backs.
Free-flowing footy
Twenty-three goals and three behinds were kicked in the second half, and that is a remarkable statistic. It is made more remarkable when you consider that two of those behinds were rushed behinds.
What’s more, this is emblematic of the concerns surrounding the Bombers’ defence. They played a more man-on-man style yesterday, however, they still need to develop and will be without finals success for at least another two years.
It remains to be season as to whether the Bombers can learn to defend.
I understand the James Stewart and Aaron Francis decisions and they’ve both shown they can play at either end of the ground, but Stewart is a better half forward than Aaron Francis, and Francis is a better defender than Stewart.
The free-flowing nature of the contest is revealed by the lack of inside 50 pressures with five tackles laid for the game in the centre.
Final thoughts
The Bombers have dramatically overperformed their expectations this season, however, I am not going to deny that I am somewhat disappointed with their performance, as they’ve allowed massive scores to be kicked against them.
Essendon will be counting the cost of their loss, with Dyson Heppell breaking his hand again, while Kyle Langford has restrained that hamstring, and Jayden Laverde has injured his shoulder.
Without further ado, onto the best six.
Best six
6. Peter Wright (13 votes)
5. Sam Draper (7 votes)
4. Dylan Shiel (3 votes)
3. Jake Stringer (41 votes)/Jayden Laverde (9 votes)
2. Darcy Parish (56 votes)/Kyle Langford (24 votes)
1. Zach Merrett (62 votes)
Leaderboard
Zach Merrett (62 votes)
Darcy Parish (56 votes)
Jake Stringer (41 votes)
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