Essendon’s midfielders must get tough to ease the pressure on their defenders, writes Matthew Lloyd

ESSENDON’S midfielders are letting down their overworked defenders but Jobe Watson can help solve their contested ball woes if he gets back to his strengths, writes MATTHEW LLOYD.

Jobe Watson and his midfield mates need to help the defenders. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

IF one group of players is crying out for the mid-season break, it’s the Essendon back six. If you saw the Bombers against Richmond last week you know exactly where I am coming from.

The Essendon backline was under siege for all bar the first five minutes.

Michael Hurley and his teammates were given no respite due to the enormous amount of forward 50m entries they had to contend with against the Tigers.

A 15-point defeat flattered Essendon, because it was never going to win when it conceded 71 inside 50s.

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The problem for Essendon is that this wasn’t a one-off. It’s more a common occurrence and most of the blame should lay at the feet of the midfield.

That is the Bombers’ biggest weakness at present and so many key indicators show that they are comparable to the Brisbane Lions the way they are playing.

Essendon has won the inside 50m count only once this year and is conceding an average of 59 inside 50s a game. Only the Lions are faring worse.

Essendon also averages 12 fewer inside 50s a game compared to its opponents and the ball is spending more than nine more minutes in its defensive half than in its attacking half.

Jobe Watson must win more contested to ease the pressure on the defence. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Dyson Heppell, Jobe Watson, Brendon Goddard and Zach Merrett are the constants in the midfield, along with outside runners David Zaharakis, Travis Colyer and Darcy Parish (injured this week).

David Myers has also played his usual inside role in recent weeks while Brent Stanton, Ben Howlett and Heath Hocking have been languishing at VFL level. Stanton and Howlett get another chance this week.

The Bombers midfield does not win enough contested ball and, as a result of being second to the ball, they are a poor clearance side. That, in turn, means their backline is under constant pressure.

Only skipper Heppell averages more than 10 contested possessions a match. That number puts him in the “average” classification rating with Champion Data in comparison to the other midfielders, yet he is Essendon’s best.

By way of comparison, Geelong’s Patrick Dangerfield averages 17 contested possessions a game and, while he is a rare player, too many Essendon midfielders’ disposals are skewed towards an uncontested, outside style of game.

Former skipper Jobe Watson became the best inside player in the game for a number of years, his decision-making, vision and clean hands helping make him one of Essendon’s modern day greats.

Watson is in the twilight of his career but he is playing a totally different game now and it doesn’t suit Essendon’s cause or his own.

Watson best serves the team as an in-and-under player distributing the ball to the outside runners with his brute strength, quick hands and creativity, but he is no longer playing that style of game.

Bombers defender Michael Hurley needs some respite. Picture: Getty Images

The problem for Essendon is that no one else is either, which is why I still believe Watson has a huge role to play in this team if he gets back to his strengths and not just chasing possessions as an outside midfielder.

The Bombers today play a Greater Western Sydney side that is undermanned but, nevertheless, extremely powerful through the midfield and the forward line.

Tom Scully, Dylan Shiel, Lachie Whitfield, Josh Kelly and Toby Greene spread from the contest better than any other midfield group in the game.

The GWS midfield group is also a strong two-way running unit in that the players run just as hard defensively as they do offensively, but I can’t say the same for the Essendon midfielders.

I’ve seen Essendon do it but not consistently, which is probably why the Bombers find themselves with five wins and five losses and a percentage of 97.

If you pick and choose in this game, you never have the consistency to string multiple wins together and that’s why Melbourne, St Kilda and Essendon have landed 9th, 10th and 11th on the ladder.

I cannot wait to see how Essendon’s midfield fares today for hardness and run in a game away from home, a must-win clash.

Essendon turned the ball over 52 times in its defensive half last week, which is the highest number recorded in an AFL match.

Andrew McGrath should be given some time in midfield against the Giants. Picture: Michael Klein

The Bombers rank 18th in that area for the year but, once again, if the ball is constantly in there like it was last week, the dam wall will burst eventually.

Andrew McGrath is one of Essendon’s most important players already because he runs and carries the ball and makes brilliant and composed decisions coming out of defence.

I would love to see him play in the midfield this week, opposed to the cream of the Giants midfielders because I believe he is mature enough. It would make the Essendon midfield stronger and it would be great for his development.

Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti would be the ideal replacement for McGrath in defence. I really liked him there at the start of his career because he is a line-breaker and makes good decisions with the ball.

He spreads the field with his elite foot skills, which the Bombers defence lacks.

So much was made of Cale Hooker’s game last week and how he must go back to the backline but he won’t be the first or the last player to be beaten and have his confidence eroded by Alex Rance.

The Bombers’ forward line is ranked top four for scores and goals when the ball goes in, so Hooker is the least of their problems — he is still Essendon’s best option to play the support role to Joey Daniher.

If the Bombers are to have any chance of winning against GWS, the players in the engine room must get tough, roll their sleeves up and give the defence more time to breathe.