RIDING THE SLIDE

Let’s be honest, despite the early positives we all knew this was coming.

I wanted to believe that the team and the club as a whole had turned a corner and that better times lay ahead. But it’s impossible to ignore that effort on Friday night at Marvel Stadium and what it signifies.

And what has begun, again.

The Slide.

But knowing this was somewhat inevitable doesn’t change the fact of the matter - that loss on Friday night hurtlike hell. To have been so abysmal in the first half. Revived not just the chance of a win but the season as a whole in the third. Been only minutes away from a miracle comeback in the last … all just to drop the bundle at the end is nothing short of painful and something like poetic.

Well, for the Bombers it is - but not the fans. This club will rip your heart out and then take your wallet, year in and year out.

Rinse and repeat.

What did we really expect? A win?

In the end, I don’t think that a win would have truly told the story of the evening. Potentially, it would have papered over cracks we all need to see in the club. For the second year in a row, it’s impossible not to think that Bombers fans are about to endure another year of false dawns and yet another missed finals series.

I want to be positive, but I fundamentally can’t be. It’s the Don in me … but it’s not without reason. The flaws in this 2024 version of the Essendon Football Club are beginning to look significantly similar to that of 2023, 2022 and all those miserable seasons in recent history.

Failings are constant and unmissable, now.

Captain Holt from Brooklyn 99 sums up the feelings of the Essendon faithful after Friday night.

Poor skills in general are butchering the team’s chain game, especially by foot. Decision making is an entirely different story – ha, that was a lie – it too was abysmal.

The side is murdered on transition, still.

Slow and stunted exits from the backline are stifling any opportunities for quality inside-50 entries.

Midfielders failing at the stoppage is relentless – the less said about the rucks efforts the better.

Failed switches.

Lazy, unintelligent entries.

Over possessing.

Bombs down the line.

Team structure appalling.

Zero accountability.

There is a part of me that just wants to keep listing every failing of this current team, but I fear you’ve already nodded off while reading the list above. So, I feel obliged to change tune, if only for a moment.

Because one of the key takeaways I had from the match against the Crows was a positive, neatly tucked away behind a plethora of disastrous negatives. But one of the best aspects of the Bombers’ game on Friday night was the efforts of some of the club’s youngest members.

Sam Durham is elite and almost took the game over all by himself. 27 disposals, three marks, five tackles and a goal. He is quickly becoming the Dons’ second most-important player.  Jye Caldwell is a machine - his endeavour is untouchable and cannot receive enough plaudits. 20 disposals at 90% efficiency, six tackles and a goal were influential on Essendon remaining in the game and at times, looking like a winning side. His exit from the game was unarguably a factor in the final score.

An unmistakable rising star of the Bombers, Nate Caddy, proved influential against the Crows.

Nate Caddy decided to declare himself a star in the making, with aerial prowess, tenacity and eventual success in front of goal. Despite some inefficiencies in regard to disposal, his upside is insane and will only get better with age. All fans can hope is that he remains in red n black. Even the much-maligned, Nik Cox, found a way into the game. In the second half he showed a fight, desire and hunger that has been missing for so much of his career. Slotting 3 goals was also a massive tick for him, in his 50th outing for the club.

For those who have stood by him throughout his challenged career, Friday night was a win for you.

This, however positive it may be, highlighted a significant failing in the team’s elder statesmen. Those who fans expect to be leading from the front and standing tall when composure and leaders are required. However, there were many MIA on the night.

Despite an exciting return to senior footy a few weeks back, Dylan Shiel returned to his unwanted self. Though there were moments of quasi-brilliance and several nice passes, his game was marred by a lack of second efforts, ineffective pressure and zero defensive actions. What fans hoped was a return to his best footy is now appearing more like a fluke, and there will no doubt be some question marks over his position in the side, especially with Darcy Parish soon to return.

Jake Stringer has frustrated since the bye and Friday night was no different. With little impact on the game (9 disposals at 67% efficiency), aside from a lovely goal prior to halftime, Stringer has become like one of those uninterested kids you seen playing Auskick at halftime. Just wandering the field, not really getting near the ball, and when they do it’s just a bash and a crash with any effort not really culminating in anything valuable.

It’s a big call and I’m sure Brad Scott isn’t remotely brave enough to even consider it, but surely, it’s time to be calling for a Stringer omission?

Todd Goldstein is just too old. The end.

Mason Redman hasn’t looked right all year and aside from a brilliant goal from 50 in the second, he really looks lost. Too often losing his man. Too often lost guarding space. It’s truly sad to see him in such poor form after what he has produced in years gone by.

Ben McKay is becoming a concern. Though his stats don’t look all that ugly, it’s his turnovers, four of them, that truly stick out when you think back on the game. Two without a doubt led directly to Adelaide goals – the other two are questionable. For the price the club paid to get him, McKay is certainly not living up to expectations.

And even Andy McGrath, who garnered a lot of the ball and even had some exciting runs at times butchered it at critical moments, turning it over five times. After some quality performances earlier in the season, McGrath has shown in recent weeks why many fans remain frustrated with Essendon’s one and only #1 draft pick.

But they’re not alone - the defence as a whole have been less than impressive, but I feel inclined to give them a break. After all, not many defences could withstand the amount of ball that is currently bombarding the Essendon D-50.

Again, a failing of those in the centre.

Perhaps of all the disappointing things on the night to think of, I feel that one factor truly stands above the rest. One single factor required in those final moments that could have turned Essendon into a top four team again.

Composure.

In those final minutes while Adelaide pushed and pushed, there was an unmistakable lack of composure across the ground. That comes down to coaching and leadership. I don’t think anyone would question Zach Merrett’s leadership or his hunger for success, but I do wonder about those in the coaching box.

Brad Scott often avoids the spotlight when the Dons flaws are in discussion, mostly because he has only been at the club a short while. But with the end of his second year in charge quickly coming to an end, and the same result looking as likely as last year, perhaps it’s time to ask the question … has this side truly improved under Brad Scott?

Maybe that’s a question for another blog, but if the team continues to slide out of the top 8, it’s hard to think there won’t be more than a few people asking it.

The Saints await on Saturday … can the Bombers revive their season … or will the slide continue?

Essendon’s season is now teetering and have St Kilda to come. What once looked like a guaranteed win now appears anything but. After the majority of the season vying for a top spot on the ladder, the Bombers are now back into the pack and are wrestling to simply remain a finals contender.

Just as it was in 2023. Déjà vu, I suppose. Classic Essendon.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. This club will rip your heart out and then take your wallet, year in and year out. Rinse and repeat.

But what else did we expect?

Different season.

Same old Bombers.

Go Planes