This year is more multi-faceted; exacerbated by another one of Worsfold’s weaknesses, preferring mediocre/unfit senior players to fit younger players - think Round 1 with Zac Merrett’s woeful embarrassing performance when there was a very fit Parish.
Or then last round when Myers just had to be brought back in to the team after Parish was easily one of our better players against the Cats in the midfield with 25 possessions (12 contested) and 3 clearances.
What happened against the Swans? Parish got marooned on a HF flank and only attended one centre bounce - thankfully still kicked 2 goals in low scoring match. Myers (the worst rated Essendon player on the night according to the AFL’s score rating managed only 11 disposals (5 contested) and 2 clearances despite playing half the game in the midfield and half in the forward line (for which he has never shown any ability). Dylan Clarke - a natural inside mid - would have given us more in the midfield instead of Myers; but Worsfold doesn’t really like young players and sets a much higher standard for them compared to experienced players like Myers. How many young players do you think like Worsfold and really want tom play for him? Parish? Langford? D.Clarke?
In Round 1 we also - at least on TV - tried to revert to having our forwards push up ground and double back so that was being tried again.
Round 2 Q1 is the worst quarter of soulless, lifeless football I have ever seen from an Essendon side. The Saints were horrible early too but won a scrap because of their game plan to zone the midfield so McKenna/Saad would cut them open through the middle but go man-on-man out wide to stop easy hit up passes. Worsfold had no counter for this all game and we struggled to move forward and score.
We were lucky to get Melbourne in Round 3 who have a midfield that won’t run both ways and whose defenders would rather mind space than an opponent. Just the opponent we needed, at the right time. And Worsfold, disgracefully in my view, overlooked debuting Sam Draper and instead played Zac Clarke instead who hasn’t been good enough to be on an AFL list for 2 years; who was horrible that night and horrible again Friday night.
We got the Lions at the right time in Round 4 and played a good a Q1 as the Saints Q1 was bad. But we really faltered after half-time and early in Q4 we looked to be clearly struggling as they got within 28 points. Tippa principally iced the game for us for a comfortable win. North were rubbish all year and easy picking as they midfielders who won’t tun both ways (Hall & Higgins) and one who cannot spread from a contest (Cunnington). We looked better with an underdone Daniher as well compared to Zac Clarke.
Anzac Day was lost between a poor start and the umpiring at the end…and Fantasia being a late withdrawal. As always, another Worsfold weakness came to the fore - his refusal to tag. Pendelbury ran amok for 4 quarters and he was the difference I felt. Shut down Pendelbury and we win the game regardless of the other factors.
We have had player availability issues but these have been compounded by Worsfold’s refusal to blood young players (and play them in their position unlike twice playing Dylan Clarke last year entirely on a HF flank) and then struggling to fill holes when the senior players get injured.
If I was young player, Worsfold wouldn’t impress me at all as a coach. and i got the info I got that came from a senior player.
There is something called discretionary effort - it’s that extra 5% staff give you at critical times because they respect you and know you need that bit extra from them. It’s the same as players. What you saw on Friday night was 0% discretionary effort from our players when it mattered most. That tells me they couldn’t be stuffed and don’t care enough and that goes right the way back to the coach.
You want to see incredible discretionary effort to win tight games from an Essendon side - go and replay some the epic wins under Hird in the first 2/3 of the season before the players were told they wouldn’t be playing finals by the AFL (Finnis, before the Pies game I believe).
By the way, I was also told tonight that the player in question said the players loved Hird and loved playing for him. You could not possibly say the same about the current group of players and Worsfold.