Essendon, John Worsfold headline Mark Robinson’s dislikes after Round 8

IS it coaching? Or is it the players? Rest assured, there will be changes at the Bombers after another disastrous performance at the weekend. But who is in gun? MARK ROBINSON looks at the Essendon debacle. SEE ALL ROBBO’S LIKES AND DISLIKES

Essendon coach John Worsfold.

TRENT Cotchin led his team to victory, Port Adelaide showed why it was considered a premiership threat during the pre-season and an unsung Carlton midfielder is playing the season of his life.

But the spotlight after Round 8 is focused on Essendon and coach John Worsfold.

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Players making contact with umpires, “boring” GWS and more Collingwood injuries are also in the bad books of Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson. And did we mention Essendon?

See all Robbo’s likes and dislikes from Round 8 below.

WHAT I DON’T LIKE

1. ESSENDON

Park discussion about changes on the field this week, because rest assured there will be changes in the coaches box at season’s end — if not sooner — and that could include the coach John Worsfold. Worsfold signed a new two-year deal in March but that means nothing when the team is performing so poorly. As with most coach contracts, there’s likely severance clauses to minimise a payout to Worsfold if the club sacks him. The Bombers reappointed Worsfold in part for stability, but so far it has been a massive failure. His support staff will especially be under pressure. His assistants, Paul Corrigan and Hayden Skipworth, are new to their roles, so they can hardly be blamed. That puts Worsfold’s most influential assistants, Mark Neeld and Rob Harding, front and square in a review, which surely has already started.

Essendon coach John Worsfold is looking for answers.

2. ESSENDON.

The Bombers have gone from supposed contender to a development team inside two months and because finals are out of the question they will play more kids. Worsfold flagged personnel changes after Saturday’s loss to Carlton and that has to mean playing kids. Jake Stringer, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Darcy Parish and Mark Baguley will be assessed at selection this week because, as Worsfold said, he needs to start finding players who will be part of the club’s next premiership.

3. ESSENDON

There are questions at every club, but more at Essendon than any other. The main ones being: How can so many players be out of form, and why don’t they want to apply relentless pressure? As much as Worsfold says he is demanding forward half-pressure and better ball movement, which was supported by Brendon Goddard in his Sunday Herald Sun column, it is simply not happening. Either the players don’t listen to the coach, or they can’t implement the coach’s tactics or they are confused about it all. Something is broken at Essendon and it seems the coaching department and the players don’t know what that something is, so they don’t know how to fix it.

4. GWS

There’s trouble on the frontier. The Giants are missing a stack of injured stars but, similar to Geelong the previous week, the Eagles didn’t exactly start with their best side. Jeremy McGovern, Luke Shuey and Nic Nat were out, but missing talent doesn’t stop you applying pressure. The Giants have become a boring team. In their past 20 matches, they have averaged just 81 points per game. Only St Kilda, Fremantle, Carlton and Gold Coast have averaged fewer points. They have scored 100-plus points just three times in this period. They are out of the eight and missing the finals is a real threat.

5. WHAT’S GOING ON WITH PLAYERS AND UMPIRES?

Tom Hawkins was in the headlines all week and was suspended and the weekend comes and two players believe it’s OK to manhandle the umpire. Gold Coast’s Steven May has been referred to the tribunal and it will be interesting because it seemed he was being instructional rather than malicious. Still, he touched the umpire. Carlton’s Ed Curnow did the same, pushing an umpire, which is likely to be viewed less favourably than May’s action. He will be at the tribunal on Tuesday, one suspects, and be given a suspension.

6. ST KILDA

A record six times in the “dislikes’’ this season and it’s eerily familiar — they can’t score. They kicked two goals in three quarters and six goals in the third quarter in what was another incredibly frustrating night for the coach, the team and their fans. This season the Saints have kicked a goal from 17 per cent of their inside-50s, the lowest percentage recorded by Champion Data, and have averaged 16 points per game from stoppages, the fewest Champion Data has seen. So, if it’s not the mechanics of ball movement, it’s inaccurate kicking in front of goal. Is there a forwards coach out there who can fix the Saints? If so, he needs an offer he can’t refuse to join them next season.

7. ISAAC HEENEY

Hawks sharpshooter Luke Breust kicked three goals and two of them came because of the lairising from the Swans player. In the third quarter Heeney flew for a mark in the goalsquare and didn’t hold it and Breust roved and goaled. On the wing in the same quarter, Heeney flirted with a one-handed take and didn’t control the ball. The Hawks won the ball, got it forward and Breust kicked his second of the quarter. Heeney had to play percentages and not play “look at me’’ football. He can thank Ben Ronke for making sure his mistakes didn’t cost Sydney the match.

8. WHY THE CONFUSION ABOUT LUKE PARKER?

He ran in at speed, turned his body and tried to pick up the ball a moment before Hawthorn’s Jarman Impey knocked it inches from Parker’s grasp. It was a textbook approach from Parker which, 3AW commentator Daniel Harford stressed, should be taught by all junior coaches. On the flip side, Impey went down for the ball, arms in front and body open. What we have learned this year, though, is the head isn’t as sacrosanct as it was two years ago.

9. UNLUCKY PIES

Mighty effort on Sunday and only let down by being sloppy inside 50. When you kick 5.15 it’s going to be tough to win a game. They played without their skipper and lost two players to injury, which is nothing new to the Pies. Jamie Elliott also injured his hamstring in the VFL, which puts his 2018 season back another four or five weeks.

Dejected Magpies walk off the MCG.

WHAT I LIKE

1. SAM MENEGOLA

SuperCoach owners queried Menegola when he was named the highest-priced forward in the pre-season and it’s games like this that justify his standing in the game. A classy forward-mid, he kicked three goals from 24 disposals in a game where goals were gold. Others collected more ball, but for influence it was Menegola, especially in the third quarter. That’s four wins from their past five matches for Geelong and coach Chris Scott maintains his position, as voted by the coaches, as the hardest coach to coach against.

2. TRENT COTCHIN

The most selfless, manic and team-first outfit in the AFL is led by Trent Cotchin. Bob Murphy reckons players like Cotchin are symbolic of their team and on Sunday, in a fierce contest, Cotchin was front of the pack for his team. He had 37 disposals, 22 contested and kicked a goal and seemingly was opposed to Ben Cunnington, who was inspirational himself. We talk of Nat Fyfe and Shannon Hurn as prospective All-Australian captains and Cotchin easily sits with those two.

Trent Cotchin was huge — again — against North Melbourne.

3. PORT ADELAIDE

No more evidence is needed that the game is played largely above the shoulders than Port Adelaide. The emotional response from Ken Hinkley’s boys was for there all to see. They had lost the contested footy count for six matches in a row and their bona fides were being questioned. Last week against West Coast they were embarrassed, losing the contested ball by 40. Against Adelaide, in another stunning Showdown, Port won the contest footy by 20. That’s a 60-effort turnaround. Can Port make that the norm and not just a response?

4. TOMMY AND ROBBIE

Sounds like the name of an Enid Blyton novel, but it was no fantasy land at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night. Tom Rockliff played the sort of game Port expected when they recruited him, collecting 31 disposals and being that important ground-ball winner and linkman. Robbie Gray played the sort of game very few players can in the AFL. He’s the ultimate matchwinner because he doesn’t need a lot of ball to affect the outcome. At the 20-minute mark of the second quarter, Adelaide led by 27 points. In the next 40 minutes Port kicked eight goals to two, and Gray kicked six of them. It gave Port the lead and ultimately the match.

5. ED CURNOW

Little brother Charlie gets all the hype and rightly so, but it is big brother Ed who is high on Carlton’s hype metre. He is probably second to Patrick Cripps in the best-and-fairest and has career-highs in disposals (27), contested possessions (10), clearances (five), pressure points (55) and tackles (nine). As coach Brendon Bolton noted, it is Cripps and Curnow in the middle with a bunch of kids rotating through. Curnow arguably was the most valuable player against Essendon as he tagged Zach Merrett for almost 70 minutes and kept him to just 14 disposals. Curnow is also the No. 1 tackler in the AFL in 2018. Pity he’s likely to be rubbed out for touching an umpire (see dislikes above).

Ed Curnow celebrates a goal against Essendon.

6. HAVE THE DEMONS FOUND ANOTHER MIDFIELDER?

Complete domination from Melbourne at the Gabba against Gold Coast. While Suns coach Stuart Dew confronts the reality of the formidable job in front of him, the rest of us must confront the reality that the Demons are strong contenders in 2018. They are 5-3 and seemingly have worked out their issues from four weeks ago. Against the Suns they had 41 scoring shots to 22 from 83 inside-50s, which is the equal most Champion Data has ever recorded. James Harmes’ move into the middle three weeks ago has been a raging success. On Saturday night he had career-highs in ranking points (139), disposals (33), contested possessions (18) and sore involvements (12).

7. SANDILANDS AND FYFE

The most dangerous ruck/rover combo in the game by a mile. They have combined 43 times this season and the next highest is Ben McEvoy/Tom Mitchell (29 times). Aaron Sandilands’ career looked cooked because of injury, but he has been outstanding this season. Has won a hitout-to-advantage from 24 per cent of ruck contests, which is ranked No. 1 in the AFL. And Nat Fyfe is arguably the best player in the AFL as we speak.

8. MARK HUTCHINGS

West Coast’s pressure was amazing against a lacklustre GWS, recording a pressure factor of 196 when the AFL average is 180. Midfielder Hutchings led the way with 75 pressure points, as well as doing the job on Dylan Shiel. Hutchings is the hard-nosed midfielder every club would like to have because he sacrifices his own game for the good of the team. He had Shiel for a half a game on Saturday and kept him to 11 disposals. The Eagles have the game to play deep September.

9. BEN RONKE

A hero to a nation on Friday night football and didn’t we love him. Seven goals, 10 tackles and an enthusiasm which was contagious. Rival clubs must look at the Swans with envy, specifically their talent identification and their development program. Ronke is yet another player to come from the rookie list and on Friday there was Ronke, Tom Papley, Jake Lloyd, Dane Rampe, Heath Grundy, Nick Smith, Harry Cunningham, Kieren Jack, Dan Robinson and Callum Sinclair, who was a rookie at West Coast. What are terrific club.

10. BEN CUNNINGTON

The best handballer in the game continues to win plaudits, as does his team despite Sunday’s loss. He is a beauty with ball in hands, all skill and poise and he complements it with smartness and courage at the contest. He had 38 disposals and an extraordinary 32 of them were contested, which broke the previous record for most contested possessions in a match. Patrick Dangerfield and Sydney’s Josh Kennedy had 29, ahead of Chris Judd and Jude Bolton on 28.

11. REALLY WANT TO WRITE ABOUT JACK MACRAE

This will make it three weeks running and it would be a “dislike’’ if we ignored him. He is second to Nat Fyfe in the Herald Sun Player of the Year award after yet another three votes for the Western Bulldogs. He had 47 disposals which follows 31, 31, 30, 34, 26, 32 and 40 in his previous seven games. He’s had 271 disposals in the first eight rounds, the most recorded by a Bulldog after eight rounds since 1999.

Bulldogs ball magnet Jack Macrae. Picture: Michael Klein

BEST TWEETS

@MrBradski999: L: the Dees finding that killer instinct to bury a side. D: inconsistent frees in a marking contest, blocking, unreasonable attempt, holding... let them go and have a contest

@burgclax11: Like: Nick Vlastuin - one of the most underrated players in league. Just as important to the Tigers backline then Rance. Future capt. Dis - no after hours bust up at the Ramsgate after the Showdown

@DemPanopoulos: Like: Freo uncovering a couple of beauties late in the draft. Ed Langdon averaging 27disp, 6 marks and 5.5 score involvements in the last month (Pick 54). Dislike: GWS’ lack of direction, the issues of limited two-way running and defensive application are still there

@Moxie404: Like Robbie Gray, Jakey Neade and Port’s tenacity. Dislike: time schedule of the Showdown (shoukd have been prime time).

@Lazlow: Like: Jake Waterman. 8 games, 10 goals. Dislike: GWS’ dropping Patton when they keep playing him as anything but the power forward he is. After the coverage of Hawkins umpire touch, TWO MORE DO IT. Foolish.

@gapp: Dislike the bombers. Do the players care? What is wrong with this club. Likes Swans character... Culture..

@fi5haa: Like ben Jacobs. Adds another victim to the list. Dislike umpires making it about themselves

@matthew_trim_: How can Port be a like when they just fell over the line against a half-strength team?

@ZacMast: Like: Carlton getting a win and seeing Bolts smiling. Sydney/Hawks rivalry still as strong as ever. Dislike: GWS’ hot and cold behaviour.

@quackerz77: Like: Tom McDonald. Has brought some real structure to a forward line that desperately needed it, and kept the Dees ticking over when they needed some goals in the 1st half.

@john_hicks57: Dislike: crowds of 9000+ at GWS V Eagles and 6000+ at Suns V Melbourne. No congestion there

@CyberLeedsCelts: Likes - 7 goal wonderkid Ronke, Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow stepping up in Casboult’s absence and Ben Cunnington. Dislikes - Tim Membrey’s kicking, Al Clarkson’s ungracious comments about The Swans and GWS playing like millionaires.

@geoffhunt72: Like Ben Ronke with 7 and Jack Darling going on with his breakout year Dislike GWS

@cantstandyaPE: Dislikes - the crowds the suns and giants are pulling. Big slap in the face to Tasmanians

@BillMorgan_: Ben Ronke is a gun! Can’t wait to see him in a few years time @stbernardsfc

@nick_d88: Dislike: Sicily having a go at umpire after siren. Kids will see that and think it is okay to do.

@liamkelly05: Like: Jesse hogan covering the most ground of any dees player! He’s putting a seriously good season together. Dislike: football at the moment, saints and pies 1 goal in a half, GC almost non competitive and for the 2-3 good games a week there is 5-6 bad ones!

@1Neddy1: Like Tom Stewart’s second year in the AFL. Dislike Essendon

@ScottRCollins: Like: Tom MacDonald allowing Melbourne to play the structure they want to. Ken Hinkley showing passion, sense of humour & proving players & coaches read the papers. Dislike: Brisbane player torching teammates in search of glory, would have a few wins if they played team first.

@StuarttheIves: Like: Jack Darling. Carlton showing something. Kenny Hinkley showing passion. Dislike: More inconsistency re: Parker’s bump on Impey. Essendon. St Kilda.

@bloodsfan65: Like - hewetts job on mitchell. Dislike - whinging clarko

@jamiejanides: Dislike . Brendon Goddard tackles in past 2 weeks, big zero

@Doherty_JM: Like: BIG BEN BROWN. Does not get the the credit he deserves. Evolving into a genuine superstar of the comp. Dislike: NATHAN BUCKLEY. He hated the lack of defence in the Lions game last week. Would have made it priority this week. Cost the Magpies a win today.

@WarwickWozza: Dislike : yet another of bad year for AFL teams in Qld!!! The state is only big enough for one team !!!

@TigerboyseanJ: Robbo My biggest dislike of this round The scheudling of Port Adelaide V Adelaide As twlight saturday 5:10 as apposed to 3:20 Sunday

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