Essendon coach Brad Scott has put the spotlight on his side’s effort in the contest following a damaging 47-point loss to St Kilda at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.
The Bombers were smashed 123-106 in contested possessions and allowed the Saints 49 more marks (149-100), including +23 in the third term where Scott’s side went from a nine-point deficit at half-time to 45 at the final break.
“The end result is extremely disappointing, but more disappointing than that was a lack of effort and intent which has been present for most of the year,” he said.
“In particular in the third quarter, our effort and intent in the contest was really poor and across the course of the game, it was poor.
“It doesn’t take much in this game for you to look second rate. If you drop off in that area, and we looked third-rate today so that’s the most disappointing aspect.
“Clearly the result (is disappointing) but we are process driven and if you have effort like that in the contest …
“And really, at three-quarter time, I just simplified it to show some effort in the contest, if you don’t have that as a foundation which has been a foundation for us this year, then you can’t beat anyone.”
The Bombers went on to lose the fourth quarter by eight points, showing a slight improvement from the previous term which they lost by six goals.
In their sixth loss in eight games, the Bombers lacked pressure from the get-go as the Saints took six uncontested marks inside 50 in the opening term, coming from 13 points down to 16 points ahead at quarter time, after piling on five-straight goals.
The Bombers, who have their finals hopes hanging by a thread, hit back with the next three majors, but lacked thereafter.
Scott’s frustrations extended to his side’s inability to lock the ball in the forward half in the 17.6 (108) to 8.7 (55) loss.
“We knew St Kilda were going to try and possess the ball, and that’s bitterly disappointing, we didn’t take that away at all, they controlled the game.
“And when we did have them under some semblance of pressure, in particular in our forward 50, our complete inability to apply any pressure, and when we did apply some pressure, they just kick the ball out of defensive 50 to a minus-one contest and mark it and we end up 16-5 contested marks.
“You can’t build any pressure when that is happening, you can’t get the game back on your terms when that is happening.
“There were a lot of things in the game that were disappointing but our contest in the air and on the ground were the biggest things.”
The 10-1-8 Bombers face Fremantle at the MCG next week before returning to Marvel Stadium to play Gold Coast and Sydney; then they finish the season with a clash against Brisbane at the Gabba.