Mark Robinson: Pressure is mounting on Essendon coach John Worsfold as Ross Lyon looms
A disappointing finals exit will put more heat on John Worsfold but Essendon must make an immediate decision on the coach. If the Bombers decide to dump him, Ross Lyon appeals as his replacement, writes Mark Robinson.
Mark Robinson
Don't miss out on the headlines from Mark Robinson. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The future of John Worsfold will be No.1 on Essendon’s agenda after yet another finals loss.
One of chief executive Xavier Campbell, football director Sean Wellman, and head of football Dan Richardson will need to open the discussion.
Do they keep Worsfold, a thoroughly decent man who has been a wonderfully stable influence at the post-drugs Bombers, as coach — or thank him and dump him?
Thursday night’s defeat to West Coast in the elimination final ended a topsy-turvy season and will increase the speculation on Worsfold’s future.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE SACKED PODCAST HERE
The Bombers should make a definitive statement on the coach. Not once this season has the club slapped down speculation on Worsfold and, for connection and solidity at least, announced he would fulfil his contract in 2020.
They haven’t because they couldn’t. For periods of this season, they have been uncertain what direction to take.
This is not a media witch-hunt, which has been suggested. The fact is the Bombers can’t deny that internal uncertainty. Thursday night’s loss further muddied the waters.
It was typically Essendon. Brilliant at times, lacking composure, skill, efficiency and desperation at other times.
Not for the first time, the question of whether Essendon’s game style is finals-worthy will be asked.
Defensive Eagles intercept marks were too many, and up the other end the Eagles’ smalls got off the chain.
At halftime, it was 18 shots at goal to eight. At the end it was 31 to 16. The final margin was 55 points.
The coaching options at the Bombers are scarce. They can:
KEEP Worsfold and nominate five-year assistant coach Ben Rutten or assistant coach Blake Caracella in a succession plan.
SACK Worsfold and appoint Rutten or Caracella as coach.
SACK Worsfold and appoint Ross Lyon as coach, if he’s interested, and nominate Rutten or Caracella in a succession plan.
There’s another option: keep Worsfold, the Bombers win the flag next year, and Worsfold can coach for as long as he likes.
It’s possible the Bombers could end up making a decision between Worsfold, Lyon, Caracella and Rutten.
Worsfold’s position was publicly put on the agenda in the Herald Sun on the day of the GWS match in Round 15.
MORE NEWS
Nic Nat fumes after having hair pulled
Which finalist has the best bottom six?
Game breakers: Your club’s finals X-factor
It was finals or failure then for the coach, but the Bombers won that night at Marvel Stadium — the first of five successive wins.
The finals finish, on top of the debacle against the Western Bulldogs in Round 21, complicated matters.
Inconsistency has been a major concern in 2019.
Look at the past four games. Humiliated by the Bulldogs. Win on the road against Fremantle. Pushed Collingwood. Belted by the Eagles.
It’s logical that the Bombers should ask themselves if Worsfold can take the Bombers to the next level.
If Worsfold remains as coach — and there’s a solid argument he should after the finals, with an equally solid injury list — it’s unlikely the club will extend his contract beyond next year anyhow.
That will prompt all sorts of dialogue if next season goes pear-shaped early.
If the position opens, Lyon should be discussed as a replacement, if he hasn’t been already.
Is it possible the club has already asked itself the question — Worsfold or Lyon?
There’s positives and negatives with the sacked Fremantle coach. He’s a finisher, or close to a finisher. He took over from Grant Thomas at St Kilda and made three Grand Finals (one a replay). He took over from Mark Harvey at Fremantle and made a Grand Final.
Credit to Thomas and Harvey is deserved, but it was Lyon who took the teams to Grand Finals.
He would bring a ruthless, harder edge to a club that has been accused of being vanilla in recent years.
Stream every match of the 2019 Toyota AFL Finals Series before the Grand Final Live & On-Demand on KAYO SPORTS. Get your 14-day free trial and start streaming now >
He would need to learn from his mistakes, learn to coach the team and not the club. Be less stubborn with the game plan and less dictatorial, if that’s the right word. And allow Caracella and Rutten to influence game style.
He would also need to generate warmth with fans and, at times, with the media, but firstly convince the Bombers — if he is a contender — that he’s not a bully-type, which is the perception.
Clearly, Campbell is not adverse to making a hard decision. And he has two staring right at him.
One involves Worsfold. Depending on what happens there, the other could involve the experienced Lyon or the untried Rutten or Caracella.
Originally published as Mark Robinson: Pressure is mounting on Essendon coach John Worsfold as Ross Lyon looms
Robbo’s Top 50: The four aces who could all be named No. 1
Footy’s biggest list is back with Mark Robinson naming his top 50 players of season 2024 and four superstars could barely be split for the top gong. Check out Robbo’s Top 50 and have your say.
The Tackle: What Lethal told Fagan – before and after epic flag
Leigh Matthews says history only remembers what happens on grand final day – so now Chris Fagan will get the recognition he deserves. MARK ROBINSON reviews the 2024 premiership legacy.