Essendon have been warned that they could be “in trouble for a decade” after a poor defensive showing in their 62-point season opening loss to Hawthorn at the MCG on Friday.
The Hawks ran riot against the Bombers, registering 40 scoring shots from 69 Insides 50s and the damage could have been a lot worse if Essendon had not outscored last year’s preliminary finalists in the final quarter.
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The Bombers debuted Dyson Sharp, Max Kondogiannis, and Hussien El Achkar against Hawthorn and boast one of the youngest lists in the competition.
Coming into the season, the Essendon’s average age of 23.7 made them the equal second youngest list – older than only West Coast.
While with an average games played of 58.3 before the season began, the Bombers have the third least experienced squad in the league.
But North Melbourne great David King is not standing for the youth excuses.
In a scathing assessment of multiple poor defensive efforts from Essendon’s senior players on Fox Footy’s FirstCrack on Sunday night, King said:“This talk about how young they are, these sort of things are young mistakes. I’m not buying this. This is system and attitude.”
King pointed out examples of Zach Merrett and Sam Durham charging forward from a centre throw-up and leaving Nick Watson on his own out the back.
A wide open Watson then provided the outlet option as Hawthorn went from coast-to-coast to kick a goal.
King also showed Mason Redman standing at the top of the goal square guarding grass instead of pushing up onto Dylan Moore, who used his open space to kick a goal.
“It doesn’t matter at Essendon. They only go one way and it just becomes leapfrog from there going forward,” he said.
“You play against a skilful team, of course you’re going to make them look like flag favourites.
“You can have all the talent you like, but if you teach them the wrong, you’re in trouble for a decade,” he added.
“So, that’s my fear. That even the talented ones coming in are seeing the star factor players, the leaders, do this.
“If they follow the lead of those guys, they’ll end up playing the same sort of footy.
“That’s why it’s almost cultural at Essendon and they have to make a shift at some stage.”
Archie Perkins was another player in the gun.
King showed footage of the No.9 pick from the 2020 national draft lagging behind Josh Weddle, who took an uncontested mark inside 50.
The 102-gamer looked like he could not chase back because he was exhausted, but quickly found a burst of energy to get involved in the play on the wing from the resulting kick out.
“He’s not a young player anymore. He’s just rolling back. That is your man,” King said.
“He was doubled over at the top of the square at the start of that clip and then he missed. He kicks a point.
“So, they’re saying he can’t move, he’s doubled over. As soon as they go on offence, finds some gas.
“I just reckon this classic Essendon.
“Everyone will just try and dust it under the carpet but until their attitude to defence changes and until they get a system that they can cope with, nothing will change.”
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Hawks fly high over Merrett and Bombers | 02:26
St Kilda great Leigh Montagna then jumped in with his own damning analysis of Essendon’s new captain Andrew McGrath in the first quarter.
The former No.1 draft pick was shown pushing up towards a contest in the Bombers’ forward half, allowing Connor Macdonald out the back.
Macdonald then streamed forward once Hawthorn won the ball and kicked a goal on the run.
The passage of play was one of a combined 35 score involvements from half forwards Moore (13), Macdonald (12) and Jack Ginnivan (10).
Montagna questioned how well prepared Bombers coach Brad Scott was for the challenge posed by Sam Mitchell’s side.
“Brad Scott said we planned for them, but if you plan for Hawthorn, you know that they want to own the outside,” Montagna said.
“McGrath’s a half back, what’s his mindset there to allow Connor Macdonald to have corridor and a five metre head start up the ground?
“What are they being taught? What is their positioning? Because if you snooze, you lose against these Hawks half forwards. They are so dangerous.”
The Bombers travel to Adelaide this week to face Port Adelaide on Sunday.
King wants Scott to make a statement on Thursday night when teams are announced.
“You’ve got to drop players regardless of how many stripes they’ve got on their shoulders for only engaging in offence,” he said.
“You can’t compete with the mid-level teams let alone get better and contend at the top of the tree.”
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