Essendon has shown ‘glimpses’ of Ben Rutten’s game plan in challenging year
The poor Bombers are really scraping to salvage some dignity out of a horror season that only gets worse. The team’s footy boss has looked back — way back — to find a sliver of positivity for fans to cling on to.
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Essendon has made the startling admission it needs to find players who are “durable both physically and mentally”.
Incoming coach Ben Rutten’s game plan has already come under fire from sceptics who have struggled to identify a sustainable forward-half brand.
But football boss Dan Richardson said it was there for everyone to see when the Bombers kicked eight consecutive goals in their 15-point upset win against Collingwood – way back in Round 5.
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Richardson said the Bombers had also shown “glimpses” of their brand against GWS, West Coast and Hawthorn, but ultimately their season had been sabotaged by players breaking down.
“I’d describe (our game plan) probably as what you saw in that Collingwood game,” Richardson said when grilled by club champion Matthew Lloyd on 3AW.
“A brand of footy where we’re well-connected between defence and attack, playing more of the ball in our forward half, setting up well behind it and applying good pressure around the ball.”
The Bombers rank 14th for time in forward half and 15th for pressure.
Richardson said some players were “close to breaking point physically and mentally with fatigue” after this year’s unprecedented challenges.
“What we need to build from our list is certainly some more durability – both physically and mentally,” he said.
The Bombers departed with high performance manager Justin Crow at the end of last season but they have suffered another rotten injury run.
Orazio Fantasia (calf), Dyson Heppell (ankle) and Joe Daniher (groin) have played a combined 10 matches this year.
Rutten will replace coach John Worsfold after Saturday’s game against Melbourne.
Richardson said their inexperience was stunting their progression.
Cale Hooker, 31, was dropped for Saturday night’s game against Port Adelaide.
“It can be a list that can challenge really quickly,” he said.
“(Against Port) we field a team with nine players with less than 50 games. But the list is more experienced than that.
“I don’t think we’re that far away, but it’s also really difficult to believe when you regularly don’t have your best (22). We still don’t believe we’re too far away.”
Free agent Daniher and Fantasia could depart the club while speedster Conor McKenna retired on Wednesday with a year to run on his contract.
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McGUANE: ‘DELUSIONAL’ DONS MUST FACE REALITY
C‘mon Essendon, it’s time to rip the ‘handle with care’ sign off Ben Rutten.
I’m not talking about unveiling him as senior coach as we all know he has effectively been the man responsible for game plan and strategy this year.
I’m talking about getting the man who will coach Essendon next year and beyond to start connecting more with a supporter base that is livid with the team’s fluctuating performances.
The Bombers have been one of the AFL’s most disappointing teams, which has been the case for almost 20 years.
It’s been another wasted season – five of their six wins and their draw have come against bottom six teams.
When Essendon takes on Port Adelaide on Saturday, it will mark 5852 days since the club’s last finals win in 2004.
That’s embarrassing for a once mighty club.
The fact Rutten hasn’t attended a post-game press conference this season is ridiculous.
They have been left to John Worsfold, who holds the title as coach, even if the day-to-day messaging with the players and strategy sits with Rutten.
Rutten should be front and centre in the last two after-match conferences.
Get him conditioned to answering the hard questions for next year.
Rutten is a big boy, you don’t have to hide him.
The Bombers keep saying they are a systems-based team, but what does that actually mean? And why isn’t the team buying into it yet?
Let Rutten start answering those tough questions and take the fans with him on the journey rather than allowing Worsfold to be his shield of silence against a wave of supporter backlash.
STOP BEING DELUSIONAL
After the mauling from Geelong, Essendon chief executive Xavier Campbell urged fans to allow the group more time to implement Rutten’s game plan.
That’s delusional.
There appears to be a disconnection between coaches’ messaging about how they want to play and how the players are buying in.
How else can you explain the Bombers’ -35 marks differential – the AFL’s second worst first-half differential this year?
Or the worst amount of scores conceded from stoppages (-37 points) in the first half against the Cats? Or the -59 scoreboard differential, the worst return in an abbreviated season?
Those returns are incomprehensible!
Why is Campbell giving Rutten, Blake Caracella and Worsfold an easy cop-out by saying this new game style needs time when other clubs have been able to take on new plans and make them work?
Is the CEO indirectly buying himself some time as he and general manager of football Dan Richardson were central figures in wanting Rutten to be the coach?
St Kilda’s Brett Ratten and Fremantle’s Justin Longmuir have put their own stamp on game styles across 2020. So why not Essendon?
The narrative being offered from the CEO is about support, and that’s admirable. But for supporters it must sound like a tiresome broken record.
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LEADERSHIP VOID
It’s hard to be critical of a captain who spent all but three games of the season on the sidelines, due to injury.
But Dyson Heppell made an error of judgment when he allowed youngster Irving Mosquito to tell a joke out on the ground as the team came back out after half time against the Cats.
We are not privy to what was said in the rooms, but to portray an air of fun after such a first half hiding was a huge mistake.
If I was a paid-up member of the Essendon Football Club, contributing money without getting the chance to go to the footy, I would have been furious seeing the players laughing and joking after what they had dished up.
It smacked of a copycat mentality, trying to mimic what Jack Higgins did so endearingly at Richmond in 2018.
The big difference is the Tigers were winning at the time and their leadership structure was rock solid.
Essendon’s leadership structure has been a shambles in recent seasons.
Zach Merrett was in the leadership group from 2016 through to 2019, but was dumped this year, despite winning last year‘s best and fairest.
How do you explain that?
David Zaharakis is back in this year after being out for the previous three seasons.
Dylan Shiel and Devon Smith are in this year, but were out last year.
Michael Hurley rejoined the group this year after being a controversial omission last year.
Confused? You should be.
STOP SITTING ON THE FENCE, JOE
Joe Daniher sitting on the fence during the game as Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti was having a shot at goal in the West Coast game was a terrible look.
Don’t give me the explanation – it’s just his personality. That’s rubbish.
Leigh Matthews always used to tell us – Do what should do, not what you feel like doing at the time.
Joe’s action epitomises what is wrong with this group – they do what they want, not what best suits the team.
Would he have done a similar thing if the match had been at the MCG before 80,000 fans? Of course not!
Career-wise, Joe has been sitting on the fence since being denied a move to Sydney at the end of last season.
The Bombers fought tooth and nail to keep him last year. They must do the same if he exercises his restricted free agency options this year.
Clubs don’t match offers given to restricted free agents. But the Bombers should buck the trend if it happens because their lack of forward firepower means they desperately need him to stay.
Daniher is a game-changer and one of the most exciting players in the AFL when he is fit and raring to go.
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SELFISH MIDS
Essendon has a problem in its midfield. It’s not talent; it’s about attitude and selflessness.
When the likes of Devon Smith, Dylan Shiel and Zach Merrett don’t start a game in the midfield, their bottom lip drops so far it collects gravel.
That negative attitude and body language can be contagious.
When you see a player berate his teammate when he doesn’t receive a handball, even though the receiver is in a position he shouldn’t be calling from, it shows it is not a cohesive group. It smells as if stats are at the forefront of their minds.
Rutten must clamp down on this.
Andrew McGrath can be excused. He has become their best two-way midfielder.
The club talks about its speed on the ground. But that isn’t just measured in breakneck speed when you have the footy.
It relates to defensive transition and we are not seeing the Bombers’ mids chase and dispossess at the moment. They pick and choose with their defensive intensity far too often.
TIME TO GET FITTER, FELLAS
McDonald-Tipungwuti and Jake Stringer must get fitter.
Is ‘Tippa’ not getting to enough contests because of the extra weight he appears to be carrying?
Why was Stringer averaging 14 centre bounce centre attendances in his first four games, yet since he has returned from injury, he hasn’t been to one centre bounce?
Is that the coaching staff saying you are no longer fit enough to contest them, or is it that the forward line desperately needs you in there?
Something tells me it is more about fitness than forward composition.
We saw Mosquito make his debut in Round 13 this year. Sadly he will miss 12 months after suffering a knee injury.
Here is a young kid who put on six or seven kilos during the course of the year. As a result, he didn’t get to make his debut until he was forced to lose the weight.
How can that happen in a professional environment?
FIX THE LIST
As good a servant as Tom Bellchambers has been, he looks bashed up and his time is up. Sam Draper is the future.
Cale Hooker and David Zaharakis have one year left on their contracts, so they will survive – just.
We know Michael Hurley’s capabilities, but I’d be saying to him ‘Michael, for Christ’s sake, stop trailing in?’
He has lost that ability to play one-on-one and seems to be intent on being an intercept defender – even that ability is waning, and disturbingly he seems more preoccupied with being an accumulator of the ball.
Aaron Francis is only 23, but there are doubts on his resilience to stay on the park often enough to make the most of his talents. I also question whether he is tall/strong enough to play on key position monsters.
A trade shouldn’t be ruled out.
Shaun McKernan has done his job as a top-up player, but he has turned 30 and is probably done.
Does Tom Cutler fit into that unconditional will to win that’s so important to successful teams? Brisbane didn’t think so. The Bombers brought him in as an athlete, but they need fierce competitors right now.
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THE POSITIVES
Jordan Ridley’s performance in the backline has been a huge positive.
Adam Saad has also had a very good season. But why hasn’t he signed with the club yet?
Is he not happy with something in the background?
McGrath’s upside has been huge.
Merrett has taken the leadership group backhander in the right manner, averaging 26.5 possessions per game.
There has been growth from Kyle Langford, but can he take his game to the next level?
Where does Parish play his best footy. Is that forward or in the middle? Does he kick the ball well enough to become an elite midfielder?
There are so many questions, and the fans desperately need Rutten to be the man to start answering them – without spin.
Originally published as Essendon has shown ‘glimpses’ of Ben Rutten’s game plan in challenging year