Dual premiership Kangaroo David King has urged Essendon players to “demand more of each other” this season to help break a prolonged stretch of mediocrity the club’s passionate fans are “sick of”.
The Bombers last year showed promise – particularly early in the season – but ultimately capitulated late to finish 11th on the ladder in their first campaign under coach Brad Scott.
In the past 20 years, Essendon has finished between 15th and seventh on the ladder – outside of the 2016 season where it claimed the wooden spoon after the CAS doping bans – and not won a final since 2004.
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“I think the fans are sick of it, just being a so-so team,” King told Fox Footy’s First Crack on Monday. “The talent has always read better than the results – and that (Essendon’s ladder positions over past seasons) highlights it better than any other graph you’ll see.”
King said his “big worry” for the Bombers ahead of the 2024 season was that they’re still “a nice footy club”.
Draper nearing full fitness for Bombers | 02:06
“Last year was the time to call it for Dyson Heppell, but they go another year. Now they’ll try and service Dyson – whether that’s as a wingman or half-back – and I don’t think that really helps the way they want to be express and move the football,” he said.
“Does Jake Stringer just beat bottom-10 teams or does he actually change games against top-eight teams? They’ve got to make some tough calls there.
“Andrew McGrath, nice player – Pick 1, playing back pocket? You’ve got to demand more of each other. They’ve got to ask for more.
“I think it’s time to raise the bar. If you’re an Essendon player or Essendon supporter, you should want more. I mean, who really plays with any anger to change the course of games aside from Sam Draper? I just don’t see it.
“They’ve been a nice footy club for too long and they need to do something to stop this meandering existence they’ve had of just being an average footy team.”
Despite Essendon’s strong start to its 2023 campaign, none of King, Leigh Montagna or Anthony Hudson tipped Scott’s troops to make the finals this year.
“I need to see it before I can trust them,” Saints champion Montagna told First Crack.
“I’m looking at the leaders, so (Jayden) Laverde, (Kyle) Langford, McGrath, (Mason) Redman, (Darcy) Parish, (Jordan) Ridley – all their leaders who have been there for a number of years now – are they going to stand up and be a ruthless footy club? And when the chips are down, find a way to work themselves out of it and get the best out of this group?”
Montagna said the Bombers are “so hard to assess” on the eve of the AFL season.
“They were 8-5 at Round 13 (last year) and had some really good traits – and then they were just poor, like really poor, at the end of the year in every facet of the game,” Montagna said. “They couldn’t score, they couldn’t move the ball, they couldn’t defend, they couldn’t lock it in their front half. They went 3-7 (in their last 10 games) – and two of those wins were North Melbourne by nine points and West Coast by one point.”
The Bombers were one of the most active teams during last year’s AFL exchange period, picking up free agents Ben McKay, Jade Gresham and Todd Goldstein while also trading in Xavier Duursma from Port Adelaide. There’s also ample excitement around their top-10 draftee Nate Caddy – a powerful mid-sized forward who’ll be in their Round 1 mix.
“I think they get some stability behind the ball for the first time in a long time,” King said.
Draper nearing full fitness for Bombers | 02:06
“Zach Reid doing a full pre-season and Ben McKay – they’re two monsters, big bodies. Reid can seriously kick the footy, so he doesn’t slow you down on the way out. I think he’s just one they need to stay healthy.
“I like the use of Nic Martin, across half-back playing that Nick Daicos role. He’s free-wheeling, a damaging player … What they’re allowing him to do will impact the scoreboard. They’re going to take a few risks defensively to accommodate this – and this is a team issue – but I think this move will have a massive impact. They get him and Redman now – there’s a difference to having one and having two.”
Montagna said the Bombers needed another big season from All-Australian Darcy Parish, which would help release skipper Zach Merrett in a more versatile role.
“For me, (the midfield) has to be built around Darcy Parish. I think he’s their No. 1 man in the midfield,” Montagna said.
“Of all the midfielders in the last three seasons, he actually rates as one of the elite midfielders in the game: Fourth for average clearances, third for disposals, third for score involvements, which would surprise some people.
“He’s their clearance man, he’s their Lachie Neale. I think they need to build their midfield around him.
“And I would like to see Zach Merrett played a bit like Nick Daicos, throw him around everywhere and anywhere … use him as your best kicker and player to throw something at the opposition.”
