John Worsfold defends Joe Daniher and backs Jobe Watson for Essendon’s trip to Perth

JOHN Worsfold expects Jobe Watson to make the trip to Perth and has come to the defence of Joe Daniher who is underfire after a disastrous day in front of goal.

Joe Daniher kicked 1.6 against Melbourne.

JOHN Worsfold expects Jobe Watson to make the trip to Perth to take on Fremantle, insisting the former captain will let him know when he’s ready for a rest.

Watson had 13 touches in the Bombers loss to Melbourne after the five-day break from the Anzac Day match.

“We’re confident that he’s right and ready to go,” Worsfold said.

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“If he needs it (a rest), if he felt as though his energy levels weren’t going to get him up to perform at the level he wants to, we would look at resting him for sure.”

“In our wins this season Jobe’s been a really strong contributor and he will be for the remainder of this year.”

Worsfold confirmed Mitch Brown’s ankle injury would sideline him for four to six weeks, with Michael Hartley a likely replacement.

Joe Daniher struggled at the weekend

The Essendon coach said Joe Daniher’s disastrous day in front of goal, where he kicked six behinds and one out on the full, was a “one-off event”.

He also backed his forward’s body language, who was criticised for smiling after he finally kicked a goal and then for hugging former teammate Michael Hibberd.

Worsfold said of the hugging: “He can hug as many people as he wants if he’s playing good footy … I wasn’t a hugger myself, but we’re all different.”

“It’s about consistency of practice and focus on what he’s working on,” Worsfold said of Daniher’s goal kicking.

Worsfold insists Jobe Watson will let him know when he needs a break

“ … Part of what Joe’s doing is putting a program together to improve his kicking that’s over the course of the next eight years.

“ I’ll be saying stick to the program that he’s got in place which is around improving him and keep working at it and believing in it.

“When you try new things you often go through a period where it feels a bit uncomfortable, a bit harder, but the champions keep working through that and come through that a lot better.”

Matthew Leuenberger was rested at the weekend and could return.

Originally published as John Worsfold defends Joe Daniher and backs Jobe Watson for Essendon’s trip to Perth