Mark Robinson: Essendon must make the finals to save John Worsfold’s job

The equation is simple: Make the finals and John Worsfold is a chance to coach Essendon next year. Miss them and it’s all over red rover, Mark Robinson writes.

The die is cast at Essendon.

If John Worsfold is to coach the Bombers next year, his team needs to play finals.

If they don’t play finals, he’s almost certain to be replaced, despite having 12 months to run on a contract.

The Herald Sun believes the frustration levels at Essendon are peaking after another middling and mediocre season and the focus has turned to the coach and his coaching group.

The lack of consistency of effort and performance is central to the frustration.

The club must be questioning if Worsfold’s philosophy of empowering the players is the right philosophy for this group.

That might say more about the maturity of the team and the players’ inability to accept responsibility more than it does about Worsfold.

But the game plan and match-day tactics are increasingly questioned by former players, led by club great Matthew Lloyd and to a lesser extent Tim Watson, and former coaches in the media.

There are positives, such as the improvement in defence, and there are excuses, such as the expansive injury list.

Essendon coach John Worsfold is a man under pressure. Picture: Michael Klein

But it’s apparent the Essendon board and senior officials believe the results should be better than their mid-table standing.

Essendon is 6-7 ahead of tonight’s match against Greater Western Sydney.

A defeat would mean they would have to win at least six, probably seven of their remaining eight games to play finals.

The outlook is bleak, but not impossible.

Essendon chief executive Xavier Campbell has made some strong calls in recent years.

He axed James Hird, Mark Thompson, Mark Neeld and Neil Craig, among others, so a decision to move on Worsfold would not daunt him.

Campbell and football director and premiership defender Sean Wellman would ultimately make a decision on the coach, before making a recommendation to the board.

And it would be a tough call. Worsfold is held in the highest of esteem at Essendon.

He was appointed coach in October 2015, becoming what’s been termed a “wartime’’ coach.

John Worsfold was all smiles in October 2015 when he was unveiled as the Dons’ new coach. Picture: Michael Klein

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His first year was Essendon’s worst, winning three games in the face of mass suspensions, before drafting No.1 pick Andrew McGrath.

He made finals in 2017, prompting a surge of off-season signings which included Jake Stringer, Adam Saad and Devon Smith.

At the end of last year, they added dynamo midfielder Dylan Shiel.

A combination of top-shelf recruits and existing All Australians, including Michael Hurley, Cale Hooker, Dyson Heppell and Zach Merrett, presented lofty expectations.

The simple question Essendon has to ask itself is: With this talent, should the team be better placed? The answer is yes.

Worsfold has been a pillar through difficult times, a calm, strong character when the team and club climbed out of the darkness.

To that point, the drugs saga is yesterday’s news.

How does Robbo think the Bombers will fare in the back half of the season?

While external observers have suggested the club is still struggling after those years of torment, internally the club won’t accept that as an excuse.

A respected figure, Worsfold is also a curious figure to Bomber fans.

His game style has been a team that creates drive from halfback through the corridor.

When that system fails, fans wonder about the Plan B.

They are a bit of a furphy, these Plan Bs, but what has come under focus is Essendon’s inability to fight in games.

The Bombers can’t adapt to situations in games when things are going against them.

It’s often wondered just how a player of Worsfold’s tenacity can coach a team that is often exposed for a lack of tenacity.

There are basic questions, too, such as a lack of improvement outside Darcy Parish and Mason Redman.

What’s happened to David Myers, Aaron Francis and Kyle Langford?

Darcy Parish is one of few young Bombers living up to his potential. Picture: AAP

The Bombers have only kicked more than 75 points in one game since Round 5.

That probably correlates with a defensive adjustments — because there’s always a reaction — but again, why is Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti so inconsistent?

The situation will be a delicate one for Campbell and Wellman.

If the Bombers’ finals aspirations end soon — they play five top-eight sides in the run home — do they start shopping for a new coach alongside Carlton and North Melbourne, or wait until the season officially ends.

It would be terrible situation if they made inquiries about the likes of Fremantle’s Ross Lyon while Worsfold was still at the helm.

But can they wait until the end of the year?