John Worsfold admits Essendon coaching staff were searching for answers in third term fade out
ESSENDON coach John Worsfold admitted he was lost for answers in the coach’s box as his team’s intensity disintegrated in yet another costly third quarter against Melbourne.
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ESSENDON coach John Worsfold admitted he was lost for answers in the coach’s box as his team’s intensity disintegrated in yet another costly third quarter.
The Bombers leaked seven third-quarter goals – including 4.0 to 0.0 in the first nine minutes – as Melbourne powered to a 36-point win at Etihad Stadium.
At 2-4 the Bombers have plunged to 14th on the ladder but Worsfold said the four-day break from Anzac Day was “no excuse” for Sunday’s sloppy performance.
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They should regain Tom Bellchambers, David Myers (both rested), Orazio Fantasia (groin) and Conor McKenna (suspension) for Saturday’s MCG clash against Hawthorn – the club’s third match in just 11 days.
“The third quarter, for whatever reason, was just riddled with errors and we didn’t match the intensity that Melbourne came out with,” Worsfold said.
Asked why there was again a steep drop-off after half-time, Worsfold said: “That’s a great question”.
“We were asking that question in the box. What’s changed? Why is it like that?
“The third quarter we just turned the ball over, were fumbling, dropping marks – everything was well below what we’d shown earlier in the game.
“The first half one of the fastest games you’d see. The third quarter they kept going flat out and we looked like a rabbit in headlights.”
The Bombers have been outscored by 15, 14, five, four, 13 and 37 points in third quarters this season.
They were No.3 in attack last year but have managed just 17 goals from their past two games with Joe Daniher held goalless against the Demons.
Daniher has kicked just 7.9 this season but Worsfold said his work-rate was not a problem.
The West Coast 2006 premiership coach blamed a lack of supply for the scoring demise with Essendon recording just 41 and 47 inside 50s in the past two weeks.
“It really doesn’t matter who’s in your forward line, it’s strongly related to how many times you get it forward,” he said.
Demons ruckman Max Gawn was unstoppable against Matthew Leuenberger in the ruck but Worsfold said they had to rest Bellchambers because he would’ve been unable to cover the ground.
Worsfold said the Bombers would “dig into” their third quarter slumps and conceded they were “a fair bit” off playing their best footy.
“The effort was there for three quarters it looked like we were throwing everything at them and for one quarter we didn’t play with the same intensity,” he said.
Worsfold prickled when quizzed about the external hype entering 2018.
“What were the expectations?” he said.
“Improve on last year? Is that out of the question?”
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Originally published as John Worsfold admits Essendon coaching staff were searching for answers in third term fade out