AFL 2024: Essendon cops wrath after disaster loss to St Kilda as finals hope evaporate

It was a nightmare under the roof for the Bombers on Saturday and the critics have come out hard, including a former player sinking the boot in. Here’s where to for Essendon.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 27: Zach Merrett of the Bombers looks dejected after a loss during the 2024 AFL Round 20 match between the St Kilda Saints and the Essendon Bombers at Marvel Stadium on July 27, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Essendon’s finals hopes are hanging by a thread as even past players begin to sink the boot in.

A crushing 53-point defeat to St Kilda on Saturday left Essendon with a 2-6 record since round 12 and needing likely three wins from the final four games to make the eight.

Thanks to an Anzac Day draw against Collingwood, Essendon’s putrid percentage of 95.6 is mitigated somewhat but Brad Scott’s team faces Fremantle, Gold Coast and Sydney at Marvel Stadium in the next three weeks before travelling to finish the season in Brisbane.

The Saints loss was so dispiriting – St Kilda took 20 marks inside-50, well up on the previous season average of 11 – that Scott simply said his side didn’t put in enough effort.

One Essendon fan threw his scarf onto the field in frustration on Saturday and even 40-game Bomber Damian Cupido couldn’t keep his disappointment in, commenting on the club’s Facebook post announcing the loss.

Bombers fans get vocal in the race. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

“Just makes me sad that these blokes don’t understand the responsibility in representing this amazing and powerful football club,” he wrote.

Stunningly Cupido, who last played a game of AFL football 19 years ago, played in Essendon’s last finals victory in 2004, a streak that appears likely to extend this season.

Richmond great Matthew Richardson has lived through a club stuck just outside finals and said falling out of contention late in seasons can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

“We finished ninth six times and that almost self-fulfilled at times,” he told 3AW.

“You would get into contention and then you would drop the last couple of games. It would infiltrate into the players.”

Nik Cox hangs his head. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

Essendon appears set to be without defender Jordan Ridley against Fremantle due to a hip injury.

“He got a nasty knee in his hip but it was to the front of his hip. We had some concerns around his quad that he has had injured before, it’s the same leg,” Scott said.

“We don’t know. That is the bottom line. We will scan that and fingers crossed.”

A number of Bombers battled for impact against the Saints, with Darcy Parish grabbing just 13 touches on his return from injury, Jade Gresham had only 12.

Unused sub Hugo Garcia was the only St Kilda player with less than 10 disposals but each of Nate Caddy (nine), Sam Draper (nine), Jayden Laverde (nine), Kyle Langford (eight and 0.2), Peter Wright (seven), sub Archie Perkins (four) and Ridley (four) didn’t find enough of the ball.

Originally published as AFL 2024: Essendon cops wrath after disaster loss to St Kilda as finals hope evaporate