Response to Bombers’ latest loss could get ugly
JAKE Lever bravely revealed he has jumped off Twitter to help block out abuse.
Essendon coach John Worsfold ought to consider a similar social media detox. The response to the Bombers’ fourth loss in five games will be savage because yesterday’s 36-point defeat to Melbourne was downright ugly.
In a round of poor football, the first half was as putrid as it gets.
Supporters of both clubs – two of the most hyped entering 2018 – would have spent the 20-minute break questioning their progression, or regression.
Then, out of nowhere, the Demons awoke. They laid eight tackles in the first quarter and 25 in the third quarter.
They kicked five goals from 25 inside 50s in the first half and then four from their first six entries in the third quarter.
They left the Bombers in their dust. Captain Nathan Jones was at the heart of the turnaround and ruckman Max Gawn was on the end of it, curling through two goals from the boundary after a pair of easier set-shot misses in the second term.
Gawn monstered Matthew Leuenberger in the ruck and while his Anzac eve hitouts were sharked by Richmond, yesterday the Demons midfield cashed in by winning 19-9 centre clearances.
That was because they were perfectly placed, with 10 palmed to advantage in the third term alone – a season record.
Jones’ third term included nine disposals, six contested possessions, four clearances, five score involvements and 200m gained.
The Bombers’ midfield was, yet again, smashed. The Bombers were, yet again, outplayed in the third term.