‘Everyone will be looked at’: Is big change coming at Essendon?

‘Everyone will be looked at’: Is big change coming at Essendon?

05/16/2022

It’s not just whether you lose, but how you lose.

This week on the Real Footy podcast, Michael Gleeson, Jake Niall and Caroline Wilson discuss the Bombers’ worst defeat of the season. Essendon were coming off a good win against Hawthorn, but weren’t even competitive against the Swans.

The Bombers wanted to play a defensive system in the style of Richmond, to hold opposition teams up and be hard to play against. That’s not how they’re playing this season at all. Should the heat be on the coaching or is it too early into his tenure for scrutiny on Ben Rutten? And will we be seeing big changes in the footy department?

Salt in the Dons’ wound on Saturday night was Luke Parker’s apparent taunt of Dylan Shiel. Club great Matthew Lloyd said the Bombers should have stood up for their teammate to make a point. But should the Swans be disappointed with Parker’s behaviour?

Also this week, are the Saints a top-four team? Their list would indicate they aren’t, but they are around the mark. Carlton look to have more talent; Richmond can’t be discounted. And the Saints will be hurt by the loss of Jack Steele to injury for two months. But they have got some crucial players back recently and are being well-coached by Brett Ratten. Plus, it’s extraordinary how good St Kilda look when Paddy Ryder is out there in the middle. There will be a team that makes the top four, even if they don’t look like a top-four team, and the Saints are in the mix.

While the Saints can enjoy victory from round nine, the Cats’ loss has sent them back into the pack of teams at the bottom of the eight. But their relatively easy fixture – multiple games against North Melbourne and West Coast – combined with their home ground advantage should leave them comfortably in the eight come September. Are they premiership contenders?

Leon Cameron has coached his last game for the Giants and the club is now in the market for a new senior coach. There are plenty of good candidates, from Alastair Clarkson, to talented senior assistants, to coaches who are currently at other clubs. And how likely is a return to senior coaching for James Hird?

Plus, why Carlton’s win over GWS was season-defining, Gold Coast’s upset victory over the Dockers, Ken Hinkley and Port Adelaide’s turnaround and much more.

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