Worsfold laments failure to meet test

JOHN Worsfold conceded his side just was not good enough during yesterday’s 30-point loss to the Western Bulldogs.

The Etihad Stadium showdown was billed as a mini-final.

And although the Bombers failed, an inviting fixture still has them in the finals hunt.

Essendon plays Carlton (17th) at the MCG on Saturday and has games against Gold Coast (15th) at Metricon Stadium and Fremantle (14th) at Etihad Stadium.

Its toughest clash is against top side Adelaide. But that game is at Etihad Stadium.

“We’re really looking forward to the challenge of those four games,” Worsfold said.

“We talk a lot about our consistency and learning and playing good footy and we’re coming along pretty well.

“Today was inviting for us, playing a team that was levelpegging with us (on the ladder). It was a great opportunity to play in a pretty intense game, but we weren’t good enough.

“We need to show that we’re good enough now by winning what’s ahead of us.”

Worsfold described yesterday’s game as “frenetic”, but lamented the number of turnovers by his players.

“Both teams were prepared to go really fast which does mean there is that higher risk of turnovers,” he said. “I think our kicking was below what we’d expect of each other.”

That, Worsfold said, included kicking for goal where the Bombers had the same number of scoring shots.

“It was a bit frustrating in the third quarter when we seemed like we had a lot of shots on goal whereas they were very clean with theirs.”