Matthew Lloyd, Essendon’s great Matthew Lloyd, has wondered if it was the right call for the club to publicly announce their internal assessment.
President Paul Brasher confirmed last Monday night that the club was about to begin a full review, led by football director Sean Wellman.
Lloyd said Essendon “deserves the pressure” due to their poor form in the first half of the season, and wondered what their current game plan is “trying to achieve”.
“I’m probably wondering if they had to make the review public because it just puts a lot of pressure on everyone in the football club,” he said on Sports day†
“But I think they deserve the pressure, they are on two wins and nine losses and they are 16th on the ladder.
“They have a questionable style of play, have all the handball and one of the worst defenses in the league.
“It’s hard to see what they’re trying to achieve; you wouldn’t want to be an attacker in that build, but they leak badly.”
Essendon midfielder Darcy Parish was pictured arguing with captain Dyson Heppell in the quarter-time against Port Adelaide on round 11, sparking questions about the current atmosphere among the club’s leaders.
Lloyd said the apparent lack of unity at the club was not good and called for the review to install an experienced leader in the coaching group.
“I’m not confident (the leaders are on the same page),” he said.
“They don’t play like that, I don’t mind Darcy Parish challenging older players, but you can see signs it’s not great.
“I don’t see the club wanting to make any big changes… I suspect the coaching structure will change.
“Someone with a Mark Williams personality is what they need, but they don’t grow on trees.
“They need to bring some spice and personality to challenge Ben (Rutten) and breathe new life into the players.”
