'Confusion and a lack of clarity' aired in Essendon's players-only meeting as Hird rips 'confusion'
Further details of Essendon's players-only meeting have emerged after captain Andrew McGrath initiated an honesty session after the loss to Port Adelaide.
The robust discussion between the group happened after coach Brad Scott addressed the players, with only the 23 that played allowed in the room.
On Nine's Footy Classified, journalist Cal Twomey revealed a key point raised in the meeting was around "confusion and a lack of clarity" behind the team's defence and how it's been coached.
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"It's my understanding... during the pre-season it was spoken about how they were training a certain way to move and shape on the ground defensively," he said.
"It's an in-front defence versus a back shoulder defence ... that's been changed across this first fortnight."
Nate Caddy of the Bombers. AFL Photos via Getty Images
Out of the statistics from Essendon's defeat against the Power, marks against was the most damning. Port Adelaide took 165 to Essendon's 58 with 25 of those for the Power coming inside 50.
Bombers great and former coach James Hird believes there's "confusion or a lack of desire to defend" at the Bombers.
"You don't get (165) marks taken against you, if you know exactly how to defend and set up the ground," he said.
"I'm not surprised there's some confusion or discussion about how they should defend, because on the weekend they looked like in the first quarter (they weren't sure) if I should go forward to the ball, should I come back, should I go and defend my man or do I defend another man.
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"That comes down to, is everyone on the same page in the team defence not just in the back six."
Hird added he was glad the playing group decided to have the crisis talks and implored the players to go to the coaches and air their opinions.
