Essendon v St Kilda: Greats slam Bombers after horror performance against Saints
After a week under the pump, Essendon responded in the worst way possible in a loss to St Kilda, the lowpoint a bizarre moment where two players abandoned the footy to get to the bench.
Essendon
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Under siege Essendon’s response to its Round 1 hiding against GWS has been lashed as “a horror”.
Smashed by 72 points in a pitiful effort against the Giants last week, the Bombers could only managed two behinds in the opening term against St Kilda and were fortunate the Saints kicked 2.7.
While the Dons fought back in the third-term, the damage had been done, the Saints running out 17-point winners, 10.16 (79) 9.11 (65).
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The Bombers promised a better showing than the meek one against GWS last weekend.
They failed to deliver, and now must face Melbourne in what is already looming as a must-win Round 3 clash on Friday night.
It was a miserable return for John Worsfold’s 350th game as an AFL coach, and the Bombers’ first home game of the season.
For some supporters, it proved too much, with vocal booing coming at the end of an embarrassing first term and again at the end of the game.
The team touted as the big improver of the AFL this season is reeling at 0-2 and playing devoid of confidence and system.
In contrast, the Saints and coach Alan Richardson — who looked to be under as much pressure as any other team in the competition leading into the season — are suddenly 2-0 and playing with a greater system and purpose than they have for some time.
That’s a huge effort off the back of players such as Dylan Roberton, Paddy McCartin, Jake Carlisle and Dan Hannebery not being available.
It was fitting that Jade Gresham kicked the match-sealing goal late in the final term — his second for the game — because he was the game’s most influential player.
He had a career-high 26 disposals, 13 contested possessions, and five inside 50s.
Oh, and spearhead Josh Bruce provided the highlight of the match with this absolute screamer in the second term.
JOSH BRUCE! OH ME, OH MY! #AFLDonsSaints pic.twitter.com/A0fiWiLch9
— AFL (@AFL) March 30, 2019
St Kilda coach Alan Richardson says his players’ belief in the system has outweighed the injury crisis that struck the club during the preseason, saying the unbeaten Saints are looking expectantly to taking on Fremantle next Sunday in Perth.
“We have made a little bit of noise that we are a hard-working group,” Richardson said.
“The Bombers certainly outplayed us (in the third term), but it was really good to get back on track in the last (quarter).”
“It is good to get the wins. I felt in control of the game ... I thought our footy was good enough. That’s great for our fans and really great for the players.”
He said the absence had likely galvanised his side into an even tighter group, who have faith in the way they are playing, regardless of who is out there.
“We are certainly building faith in the system,” he said.
“They are a resilient group, they are so committed to making sure they can control what they can control, and playing their role strongly.”
“It is probably testament to the style that we want to play (with the system).
“We think if we can get our system right ... we don’t have any passengers and everyone is playing their role, then we are going to be hard to beat.”
And he said the group was determined not to get down about inaccuracy in front of goals, which threatened to hurt them again yesterday.
He stressed to the players that as frustrating as it was, it was a sign that they were getting their hands on the ball, and dangerous to the opposition.
COMEDY OF ERRORS
Has a team stocked with as much talent (on reputation at least) made as many bizarre errors as the Bombers did in the first half, most notably in the opening term?
Garry Lyon said it was “as bad a first quarter” as he had seen, calling it a “horror quarter any way you shape it.”
Aaron Francis kicked a ball into the back of his teammate Michael Hurley; Kyle Langford and Matt Guelfi opted to cross the boundary line for the bench, rather than contest a play in a moment of systems and sports science gone mad; David Zaharakis and Andrew McGrath spoiled each other in a forward high ball howler; and Jake Stringer kicked a shot at goal around his body that skewed off the side of his boot out of bounds.
They weren’t the only ones that Bombers’ fans catalogued in the first hour of play, going goalless and seemingly being spiritless in the first term before at least hitting back with an adequate second term. It might end up being the quarter that buried their 2019 season.
Football has gone mad when Guelfi and Langford both ignored the loose football a metre away to run to the bench to be rotated. Never seen anything like it. Slaves to sports science
— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) March 30, 2019
GAME SHOULD HAVE BEEN OVER
You couldn’t fault St Kilda’s system or their spirit.
But the old bugbear — finishing in front of goal — threatened to come back and haunt them, leaving a door ajar that could so easy have been slammed shut.
In the opening term, the Saints had 17 inside 50s to the Bombers’ eight, but combined with Josh Bruce and Tim Membrey goals, came seven behinds, a number of which should have been converted. Had the Saints been more composed in attack, the game could have been over at half time
Rabble.
— Mark Robinson (@Robbo_heraldsun) March 30, 2019
WHY DID SHIEL START ON THE BENCH?
Dylan Shiel had a strong second game for his new side, making up for a less than noteworthy debut for the Bombers last week.
But footy experts were perplexed by the decision to start the boom recruit on the bench from the start of the match, with former Essendon coach James Hird calling it “unusual” and AFL great Wayne Carey wondering if John Worsfold was giving him a message for the way he went last Sunday.
He was only off for five minutes, and it wasn’t the difference between winning and losing.
But as Carey and Hird both concluded, it just set the scene for what was a lacklustre first term effort from the Bombers’ midfield.
SCOREBOARD
ESSENDON 9.11 (65)
ST KILDA 10.16 (76)
GOALS
Essendon: Heppell 2, Baguley, Bellchambers, Myers, Brown, Smith, Stringer, McKernan
St Kilda: Membrey 2, Bruce 2, Gresham 2, Dunstan, Kent, Parker, Sinclair
GLENN MCFARLANE’S BEST
St Kilda: Gresham, Billings, Bruce, Steele, Webster, Geary, Newnes, Steven, Marshall, Sinclair
Essendon: Shiel, Hurley, Saad, Merrett, Stringer, Francis
GLENN MCFARLANE’S VOTES
3: Jade Gresham (St Kilda)
2: Jack Billings (St Kilda)
1: Josh Bruce (St Kilda)
INJURIES
Essendon: Nil
St Kilda: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Rosebury, Stephens, Hosking
Official crowd: 44,252 at Marvel Stadium
BEWILDERED BOMBER FANS LASH DONS ON TWITTER
I didn't know the Melbourne comedy festival started today with the opening show at Marvel #AFLDonsSaints
— narelle (@nellyselly) March 30, 2019
Who’s going to coach us next week ##Afl #AFLDonsSaints
— Scott Macfarlane (@scottmac5) March 30, 2019
This is absolute trash by the Bombers. Saints aren't playing that well either but they look like the Harlem Globetrotters in comparison. #AFLDonsSaints
— no. (@Ants_Acid) March 30, 2019
That’s pretty funny, Essendon.
— James Nankivell (@JamesNanks) March 30, 2019
SOS - need help. Am stuck in the house with 2 Essendon supporters who are fast becoming unhinged 🤦â€â™‚ï¸ðŸ˜³ #AFLDonsSaints #afl #seasononyhelimealready
— Andrew Wells (@orsonwells) March 30, 2019
Robbo: ‘Exploration in leadership’ behind key Dons’ US venture
Essendon’s search for finals success goes on, and to find some inspiration, three of their most important people will head to the US for some “leadership growth,” reports Mark Robinson.
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