Coaching legend Mick Malthouse asks the tough questions about Melbourne and Essendon

Melbourne and Essendon are very similar. They’ve both got so much potential without a lot of return. But why aren’t these clubs better? Mick Malthouse asks and answers the tough questions.

Where are the Demons really at? Picture: AAP Images

“There is no heavier burden than an unfulfilled potential.” (Charles Schulz)

Using Schulz’s thoughts, Essendon and Melbourne are both carrying a heavy load this year.

A quick look at the numbers from the past three seasons reveals that both clubs have so much potential without a lot of return.

The Bombers have won 38 games and lost 32 since the start of 2017. They finished eighth twice in that time and 11th

The Demons have won 34 and lost 37. Their highest finish was fourth in 2018 and last year was their lowest, 17th.

Promise. No delivery.

At least Essendon’s form has been fairly even. Melbourne has been all over the shop.

And it has continued this season. The Bombers have snuck in by a goal in each of their first two games, while the Demons predictably squandered a big lead over Carlton to sneak home last week by a point. They also lost to West Coast in the opening round.

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Can the Demons deliver on their potential? Picture: AAP Images

Ability. No grunt.

So where is the problem? A lot of it is to do with how they finish the game off. Or, how they don’t finish the game off that’s the issue for Essendon and Melbourne.

There’s an old saying in football — I might be a dinosaur but it still applies — two goals in a row against you is a run on.

This is when you batten down the hatches, fasten the planks and make it a fight until you claw back those goals. Both clubs might want to listen to this advice.

When their opponents get a run on there seems to be an inevitable panic from these clubs.

Second mistakes happen quickly after the first ones, their confidence drops, and they appear to just hope that the opposition won’t score again.

That’s not good enough if you want to win.

So, who can fight the fight?

The absence of Joe Daniher to injury throughout the past two and a bit seasons is far more severe for the Bombers than just losing a highly energetic, multi-positional goal kicker. He is a game winner.

Not only did he score, but Daniher took the heat off his teammates and provided opportunity for other forwards to score.

Cale Hooker is very important for Essendon. He can play back and forward depending on momentum, which makes him dangerous.

Zach Merrett is a ball magnet, but he can be too easily tagged out of the game.

Andrew McGrath is approaching the stage where he needs to take control of matches.

Dylan Shiel and Devon Smith, both from Greater Western Sydney, have occasions where they show great brilliance, but Smith is too often injured and Shiel at the moment is still searching for consistency.

Shiel collected the three Brownlow Medal votes the last time these two teams met, in Round 3 last season when the Bombers won by three goals.

Dyson Heppell as captain is clearly well respected among his teammates, but he will need to go to another level again when he regains full football fitness. Unfortunately he is sidelined for Sunday’s clash.

Then there are the forwards, three of them potentially brilliant in very contrasting ways.

Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti is the team catalyst. When he fires the Bombers are away, but when he fails (which can happen at half-forward) so does Essendon.

The Bombers need less Jekyll from Jake Stringer. Picture: Michael Klein

And more Hyde. Picture: Michael Klein

Jake Stringer is like Jekyll and Hyde. He has shades of brilliance and then goes into total free-fall where everything seems too hard. He is as disappointing as he is exciting.

Stringer is rarely in continual combat with his opponent. He either turns him inside out, or is left floundering himself. He doesn’t turn the neutral ball into an Essendon advantage often enough.

Not like Shaun McKernan who makes a contest of every ball, every time. He has less ability than Stringer, but greater endeavour.

For Melbourne, Max Gawn is the clear standout. I could throw in Clayton Oliver who is a very good footballer, who can be an excellent footballer if his first choice is to kick more often instead of handpassing into trouble.

Tom McDonald, the club’s leading goalkicker in 2018 with 53 has been patchy since and didn’t kick a goal last weekend.

Christian Petracca looks good and plays well but then drops a crucial mark in the dying seconds of the game and allows Carlton back into the contest. He lacks the consistent grunt of Joel Selwood and Scott Pendlebury. But he’s 24 and has the capacity to get there.

Angus Brayshaw polled third in the 2018 Brownlow Medal count, but his stocks have plummeted since.

All top-quality teams have elite players who emerge over time, they generally don’t just appear.

Recruits Shiel, Smith, Adam Saad and, to a lesser extent, Stringer are beginning to prove their worth at the Bombers.

Angus Brayshaw’s stocks have plummeted since his third place finish in the Brownlow. Picture: AAP Images

At the Demons, Steven May and Jake Lever have made little impact.

If players don’t improve with time you have to ask why? Is it the environment, the coaching, or the player himself? From the outside looking in I can’t pick it at Melbourne.

Worsfold is coaching from the bench this year with Ben Rutten in the coaches’ box. It is a strange system. Who is making the moves, who is addressing the players? But you can’t argue the results so far.

I don’t know what Melbourne’s game plan is. One week the players are savage hunters, the next they are timid, tame. One week they use the ball well, the next week the disposal is horrible. The one consistent theme is that they too often allow the opposition back into the game.

The Bombers when up and running can match it with most teams. They have been unlucky with injury but that is the nature of the game. Fundamental errors and turnovers through the corridor hurt them and this needs to be addressed.

When you can identify Essendon’s style you know they are on song. They are quick out of the backline and, with that speed, when the ball is in the hands of skilled players they can pull the opposition apart. Genuine run-and-carry type players like Saad are very dangerous in this situation.

With Daniher sidelined the Bombers have relied on multiple contributors to score goals and this is where McDonald-Tipungwuti and McKernan can shine.

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Melbourne overuses the handpass to confuse the opposition. When it is good it is excellent, when it’s bad though it’s ugly and costly.

The midfield contest between Tom Bellchambers, Merrett, Darcy Parish, Shiel and Smith against Gawn, Oliver, Petracca, Brayshaw and Adam Tomlinson will be a hot one. When Gawn taps the ball, the Demons’ mids need to get their hands dirty to be any chance.

In this game it may not be the midfield where the game is won, but rather which forward line can produce the bigger outcome. I don’t think the MCG scoreboard attendant will have any concerns about getting RSI in this game.

I’m tipping Essendon on Sunday, just, because they Dons will turn it over less than Melbourne.

Originally published as Coaching legend Mick Malthouse asks the tough questions about Melbourne and Essendon