Follow all the Anzac Day blockbuster action as Collingwood take on Essendon at the MCG

BRENDON Goddard is under fire for his animated sprays of two teammates during today’s Anzac Day loss, but Essendon coach John Worsfold says strong messages like Goddard’s are part of turning from ‘an average team’ to a great one. RECAP, REACTION

ESSENDON coach John Worsfold wouldn’t expect veteran leader Brendon Goddard to be anything other than blunt with his teammates when giving feedback during a game.

Goddard has come under fire from former Bombers including Matthew Lloyd after the defender had several animated conversations with his teammates during a horror Anzac Day loss to Collingwood. EXCLUSIVE COLUMN: GODDARD: WHY I’M SO INTENSE MATCH REPORT: PIES SHOW UP DONS’ AVERAGE JOES MOVING: COX’S TRIBUTE TO US, AUSSIE TROOPS Lloyd said Goddard looked like he was abusing his teammates, including David Zaharakis, during the third quarter. “Yelling in someone’s face isn’t going to work,” Lloyd said on 3AW. Goddard defended himself, telling Channel 7 after the game that players “hold each other accountable” and his teammates had just as much right to challenge him. “I guess I don’t get it across politely but you have to get it across pretty quick. The main thing is the follow-up later, which we do,” Goddard said. RECAP ALL THE ACTION AND REACTION IN THE BLOG BELOW Worsfold said he didn’t know what Goddard said to Zaharakis, or Joe Daniher during the three-quarter-time huddle. But Worsfold backed in his most senior player and said that sort of interaction was all part of the challenge of turning the Bombers from an “average team” in to a great one. “Players understand, they have agreed with each other that they will give each other strong feedback on all sorts of issues in a game,” Worsfold said after the 49-point loss. “Brendon is our most senior player and a champion of the game and understands the game as good as any player I have ever seen. That naturally means he is seeing things that a lot of other players aren’t seeing. “I would be very disappointed if he wans’t sharing some of his leadership and knowledge with his teammates. “In the course of a game it has got to be pretty blunt and to the point. Brendon Goddard knows what he’s talking about .. and his feedback to his players would be about is getting better as a team.” Both Zaharakis and Daniher dismissed any notion the on-field sprays from Goddard were out of order. “It is part of football. If the cameras are in every huddle at every quarter break, you’re going to see conversations like that.” Daniher told SEN. Worsfold said the overtly aggressive nature of Goddard’s delivery wasn’t a concern, either. “I’ve never thought about how demonstrative you should be, and what’s too much. I would have thought you did what you could to get our message across,” he said. “It’s not unusual that players communicate to each other about things that they might think there is some confusion about. I would encourage our players to strongly communicate with each other if they believe they are not on the same page. “I don’t know what they were talking about ... we put that in the basket of, to be a great team we have to be on the same page, we have to give each other strong feedback. “We know we are miles off being a great team.” Recap all the action and fallout in our blog below and get full scores, stats and SuperCoach scores in our match centre. LIVE stream every match of every round of the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season on FOX SPORTS. Get your free 2-week trial & start watching in minutes. SIGN UP NOW >

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