John Worsfold concedes Essendon players lacking confidence with season sinking fast
A LINE in the sand game? It looked more like a quicksand moment for Essendon after another big loss as coach John Worsfold lamented a collective lack of confidence and skill.
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A LINE in the sand game? It looked more like a quicksand moment for Essendon as its season threatens to be stuck in the mire, with frustrated coach John Worsfold lamenting a collective lack of confidence, decision-making and skill in Saturday’s 23-point loss to Hawthorn.
After a week of mouthguards out at training and past greats predicting a more physical approach, it amounted to nothing as the bereft-of-confidence Dons were outplayed by the Hawks — smashed again in the third term.
Worsfold’s team is the worst performed AFL outfit in third terms this year with Saturday’s rout in that 30-minute stretch taking the scoring differential to minus 136 points — the equivalent of more than 22 goals.
After leading by seven points at halftime, the Bombers could manage only a behind in the next quarter, while the Hawks kicked a game-defining 6.3.
When asked about what sort of psychological impact the third-term fadeouts might have on his players, Worsfold quipped: “Some players will have nightmares ... I reckon they will hear sirens ... wake up in sweats ... it must be three-quarter-time.
“Players shouldn’t be worrying about ‘this is the third quarter’. They should be going out focused on what their role is for the team and how they are going to perform for the team.
“Our first half, we had a crack at it. They were trying their hearts out, but it still wasn’t great footy ... and then the third quarter, for whatever reason, was really poor.”
Eight Essendon players had two or fewer disposals in the third term, but Worsfold admitted he had other issues.
“Part of it is we are not playing our best footy,” he said.
“There is obviously (a lack of) confidence. Our ball use is well below what it should be at AFL level. We are making poor decisions at times.”
The Bombers only had 45 tackles — more than 20 fewer than the AFL average, and now sit at 2-5.
Worsfold was as frustrated as the supporters by the team’s overuse of handball, with the handball-to-kick ratio being 205 to 185.
Thirteen of the 22 Bombers had more handballs than kicks.
“We don’t train to handball backwards and put teammates under pressure,” he said.
“That’s again maybe a confidence things ... players are out of form and not making good decisions.
“Every team has turnovers obviously, but the turnovers we are having under minimal pressure is probably what’s hurting us the most.”
Worsfold acknowledged Joe Daniher (one goal) and Jake Stringer (11 disposals) had to keep working hard.
Asked what they needed to do, he said: “Work hard, train hard and be ready for the opportunities and believe in yourself ... if we use the ball and move it better, we will give them some opportunities.”
He refused to rule out making several changes for Saturday’s must-win clash with Carlton, saying he would do so only if there were suitable replacements. One could be Orazio Fantasia.
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