Essendon accused of being ‘spooked’ as season nosedives after another less

AFL great Mick Malthouse tipped Essendon to win the premiership but at 1-6 finals are a long shot and a former AFL coach knows why.

Essendon are now 1-6 for 2022 after a loss to the Western Bulldogs. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Essendon players have been “spooked” by early season smackings after entering 2022 full of hope according to former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley.

The Bombers are spiralling with a 1-6 record after the opening seven games after a 32-point loss to the Western Bulldogs on Sunday, with their only victory coming against Adelaide by just four points.

Buckley, who stepped down as Collingwood coach midway through 2021, thinks losing to premiership contenders Geelong, Melbourne and Brisbane in the opening three rounds rocked the hopeful Essendon players, who were expected to build on making the finals in 2021.

As the losses compounded, Buckley said the Bombers had become “too easy to play against” and the players were “fractured” on-field.

“I’m seeing a side that are a bit spooked by their really tough start to the year. They played three of the best sides in the comp – they played Brisbane, they played Melbourne and they got smacked,” Buckley said on Monday.

“I reckon you’re seeing the fruits of a full pre-season and a bit of confidence going in and then just getting whacked and then not being able to cope with the reality of what they faced.

“That’s an excuse, but I think it’s something that’s there in them because what I’m seeing is a group that are fractured on-field.

“They’re not playing with any synergy, they don’t value defence, and I think every one of the good sides in the comp value defence.”

Don't reckon the days since Essendon won a final account is resetting this year

— Rudi Edsall (@RudiEdsall) May 1, 2022

Buckley said the Essendon players were failing in a key component of playing finals level football.

“There’s not enough pressure on the ball so the ball moves quickly and puts their defence under pressure,” Buckley told SEN

“The second reason their defence is under pressure is because their midfielders and high half forwards aren’t getting back to clog space and to support their back six.

“There’s not enough focus on defensive intent.

Essendon players, including Dylan Shiel, have no answers in 2022. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

“When one or two or three decide that I won’t work quite as hard in that phase of the game, it makes a massive impact.”

Essendon has been playing without key pair Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and Will Snelling when it comes to applying forward pressure and has dropped 2108 best and fairest Devon Smith in recent weeks.

After slumping to 16th on the ladder following Sunday’s loss to the Bulldogs, the Bombers next play Hawthorn (3-4) at the MCG on Saturday night.