Club great Matthew Lloyd believes Alastair Clarkson could be the man to fix Essendon

Matthew Lloyd believes Alastair Clarkson could be the man to fix Essendon, with the club legend turning up the heat on Ben Rutten.

Jon Ralph

@RalphyHeraldSun

6 min read

June 26, 2022 - 12:45PM

News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom

PERTH, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 24: Ben Rutten, Senior Coach of the Bombers coach addresses the team at three quarter time break during the 2022 AFL Round 15 match between the West Coast Eagles and the Essendon Bombers at Optus Stadium on June 24, 2022 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

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Essendon great Matthew Lloyd believes Alastair Clarkson could be the man to fix Essendon, urging the club to consider moving on coach Ben Rutten.

Essendon president Paul Brasher has guaranteed Rutten’s tenure, telling the Herald Sun last month there was no scenario in which he would not be in charge next year.

But the Dons slumped to another dismal loss on Friday as West Coast won only its second match this season.

Essendon’s defence was again overwhelmed as the Dons gave up 107 points to West Coast, with the Dons ahead of only the Eagles and North Melbourne on the ladder.

Lloyd told Channel Nine Rutten should not be guaranteed his job at year’s end.

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The pressure if building on Ben Rutten. Picture: Getty Images

“I honestly think Ben Rutten should be under pressure for his job,” he said.

“I just think why was Carlton last year the worst defence in the comp under David Teague and within the space of a pre-season Michael Voss now has his team in the top four.

“They (Essendon) were pulled apart by a team who has struggled to score all year. I think something has to give at Essendon.

“You can be too accepting and that’s what I think, they’ve been too accepting at the moment.”

Essendon’s review has no fixed time-frame but the club had already made clear it will only clarify responsibilities rather than lead to wide-spread sackings.

Lloyd said a review of that nature was unlikely to lead to significant changes at the club.

“I want a proper review. I want a review for everyone to look at what’s going wrong at the club and why it’s been so mediocre for so long,” he said.

“There is a man called Alastair Clarkson sitting there looking for a job. Could he be the thing that wakes up this football club from its slumber?”

Alastair Clarkson is looking for his next role. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

INCONSISTENT BOMBERS COULDN’T STICK TO TASK

Brad Elborough

Essendon coach Ben Rutten concedes that the depth of his side was stretched against an improving West Coast in Perth on Friday night.

The Eagles forward line was back to full strength for arguably the first time this season and starred in the 10-point win, kicking 16 goals, their biggest score of the season.

And with both Darcy Parish and Andrew McGrath missing from the Bombers side through injury, the Eagles midfield gave those forwards some quality delivery.

Ben Rutten addresses his troops during Friday night’s loss to West Coast in Perth. Picture: Getty Images

But Rutten said his side needed to experience losses without those stars as part of their growth.

“When you get consistent players out, it’s going to stretch you,” Rutten said.

“Andy played well for us last week (in the win against St Kilda) down back at critical moments.

“He’s a leader for us and a loss for us.

“But it’s a great experience for our guys down there.

“For our group, it’s about continuing to use the opportunity and get better - understand the feeling last week to this week.

“These are experiences that our group needs to go through and we’ll be better for it.

“But Darcy missing means (Jye) Caldwell plays more through there.

“To get some more time through the midfield is great. He’s not as consistent as Darcy in there, but he’ll get there; he’s going to a be a strong player for us.”

The Bombers were expecting a pretty good West Coast team on Friday night, despite them having lost nine consecutive games going into the game.

Liam Ryan and Tim Kelly returned to the side for the game; a week after Willie Rioli, Jamaine Jones and Elliot Yeo were added.

Still, the Bombers took the momentum from their upset win over St Kilda a week earlier into the first half of their game against the Eagles.

They led by 14 points at quarter-time, but with 5.5 on the board could have been further in front. They trailed by five points at the main break, despite having had five more scoring shots and 10 more inside 50 entries.

Considering the general run of play, Rutten said he believes his Bombers have had six strong quarters in the past fortnight.

The absence of All-Australian midfielder Darcy Parish gave Jye Caldwell an opportunity for more time in the midfield. Picture: Getty Images

“At half time we spoke about what was working for us,” he said.

“But we didn’t have the ability to stick at it. We did not have as even a contribution across the board as we need.

“We have had, in the last two weeks, six pretty strong quarters of footy.

“We’re playing more the way we want to, getting our share of footy around the contest in those six quarters.

“The last couple of weeks there is improvement; we are seeing that.

“Second half we dropped off and the game doesn’t let you get away with that.”

Rutten said Parish is likely to play against Sydney at the MCG next Saturday, but McGrath would likely miss at least one more week.

Harsh reality check as Bombers blow it in west

West Coast has ended the club’s worst ever losing streak.

The Eagles efficiency in front of goal was the catalyst to their 10-point win over the Bombers at Optus Stadium on Friday night, which ended a run of nine games without victory.

It also took them off the bottom of the ladder for the first time since Round 7, leapfrogging North Melbourne.

Josh Kennedy turned back to clock, kicking five goals to give his side just their second win for the season and their first since Round 4.

Jack Darling kicks one of his two goals to end the club’s longest losing streak. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

We all know good kicking is good football.

After training by 20 points late in the opening quarter with 3.3 on the board, the Eagles kicked their next 10 goals without missing.

At the same time, despite dominating general play, Essendon managed only 5.6 and lost momentum.

While the Bombers have only won three games this season, one of those was only last week when they beat finals fancies St Kilda by 35 points.

The Eagles other victory this season was also courtesy of good goal kicking. They had to produce a 14.3 score line to pinch a 13-point win over Collingwood in Round 4.

Back to the drawing board: Matt Guelfi and Peter Wright look dejected after their defeat in Perth. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

On Friday night they had a forward line boasting Liam Ryan, Jamie Cripps, Kennedy, Jack Darling and Willie Rioli, which, when given opportunity, will always give the Eagles a chance.

That lot had more than 10 fewer inside 50 entries than Essendon’s forward line, that looked capable of kicking a massive score by the end of the opening quarter.

Jake Stringer and Peter Wright each had two goals before the opening term was over.

But the Eagles forward line caught fire, kicking 16.11 (107) to 14.13 (97), reaching triple figures for the first time in 26 games.

Adam Simpson saviours the club’s first win in 10 games. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

SIGNS WERE THERE

The first signs that the Eagles were on the up only came a week ago when they went with Geelong for a half before losing by just three goals.

Their second-term win against the Cats was their first of the season.

They backed that up against the Bombers, kicking six goals in the second quarter to take a five-point lead into halftime; 6.0 actually.

It is their highest score to halftime, with Cripps, Kennedy, Darling and Rioli all already having kicked multiple goals at that stage.

It’s the first time this season the Eagles have kicked six goals in a term and in leading by five points, it was the first time they had been in front at the main change since Round 4 when they beat Collingwood.

Essendon didn’t help itself.

Elliot Yeo and Liam Duggan were playing well for the Eagles in defence, but the Bombers didn’t help themselves.

They added 2.5 for the term on their way to 7.10 after two.

Essendon trailed by five points at that stage, but had dominated clearances, contested possession and even had 10 more forward 50 entries than the Eagles.

The 17 tackles the Bombers had though after two quarters of football was one stat the coaches would have looked at in the rooms during the break.

Willie Rioli celebrates after kicking a goal. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Archie Perkins rues a missed opportunity. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images

BIG PETE GOING AL-WRIGHT

Wright is quickly becoming one of the toughest forwards in the AFL to play on.

The 203cm tall Bomber was on fire early on Friday night and could have put the Eagles away early, having 3.4 on the board at halftime. That early 20-poing lead could have been much bigger.

Wright is enjoying a terrific personal patch of form and could have had a bag at halftime on Friday night.

The massive forward is averaging 5.5 marks a game this season, but pulled down 15 over the past two weeks. He took another eight on Friday night.

Wright also kicked four goals in last week’s upset win over the Saints.

He looked in for a big night on Friday with 2.2 in the first term, as the Eagles struggled without All-Australian defender Jeremy McGovern.

That second goal was his 31st major for the season, equalling his best return in one season.

In 2017, he also kicked 31 when he was playing for Gold Coast, but that was over 22 games.

He now has 33 goals in 2022 and has only played 13 games for the Bombers this season.

A shining light in a disappointing season for Essendon.