The reason Essendon fans are ‘starting to tear their hair out’

Essendon’s list management boss Adrian Dodoro should be under further scrutiny after another disappointing season, according to the panel on this week’s Real Footy podcast.

The Bombers went from fifth on the ladder to missing finals in the last seven rounds, losing five of their final seven matches after a promising win over Adelaide in round 17.

Essendon fell from fifth to missing finals in the space of seven weeks.Credit: Getty Images

Jake Niall believes the Bombers simply lack top-end talent, pointing to captain Zach Merrett as the club’s only A-grade midfielder.

Meanwhile, Peter Ryan says there is one change that hasn’t been made at Essendon which is “hard to understand given their record”.

“And supporters are starting to tear their hair out,” Ryan said.

Caroline Wilson said it was “embarrassing” Dodoro still had a job at the Bombers.

“Particularly when he was the subject of a pretty unfavourable review, led by Josh Mahoney who is also gone,” Wilson said.

“I’m concerned by Dodoro’s record, which over two decades is frankly pretty disappointing.”

The trio also discussed Western Bulldogs’ disappointing finish to the season, while assessing the premiership chances of the eight teams left in finals contention.

Niall believes the winner of Thursday week’s qualifying final between Collingwood and Melbourne will be the team to beat in this year’s grand final.

The panel also praised the AFL’s belated appointment of Laura Kane as the new executive general manager of football, and looked back on their best and worst pre-season predictions in this week’s episode of the Real Footy podcast.