Worsfold fully committed to Bombers’ cause
AFL: John Worsfold has not asked if his job is safe as Essendon fights for its spot in September.
The Bombers coach said he remained “fully committed” to coaching the club next season and hit back at what he described as “shallow” criticism and “a cheap shot” at his coaching demeanour.
The team was lashed by club great Matthew Lloyd after what he described as a “train wreck” performance in its 104point loss to the Western Bulldogs last Saturday night and faces a defining fortnight against Fremantle and Collingwood.
But Worsfold – who was measured but pointed at Tullamarine yesterday – said speculation surrounding his coaching future was simply that and “hasn’t been loud enough” for him to seek assurance from club bosses.
“(It is) understanding that I can’t control the speculation,” Worsfold said. “What’s the reality? That’s more the question. “The speculation is fine. “If people didn’t talk about teams that were going through a rough trot, then what are they going to talk about? “What is the reality? “The reality is that I’m contracted for next year and I’m absolutely committed to this footy club and enjoying the challenge of getting the group to where we want to go to.”
Worsfold dined with chief executive Xavier Campbell in Essendon on Monday night but when asked whether his job was discussed at the steakhouse rendezvous, the coach said “no, I don’t think we did actually cover that off, no”.
His calm demeanour on the bench during Saturday night’s 21-goal pile-on by the Bulldogs became a talking point, but the coach says selective editing had led to what he described as a “shallow” assessment.