'Unacceptable': Hird's concern for Dons following Eagles loss
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Essendon’s poor season did not turn around with a new-coach bump on Sunday night, with the Bombers comfortably beaten by fellow bottom four side West Coast in Perth.
The Eagles led by as much as 49 points in the fourth quarter, before the Dons brought the final margin back to 30 at the final siren.
Essendon players leave the field in Perth. Getty
It has been a tough week for Essendon, sacking coach Brad Scott on Tuesday. Assistant coach Ben Jacobs and welfare boss Ben Robbins then quit on Friday, following Scott out the door.
They also lost five players to injury out of the Richmond game, including captain Andrew McGrath to a broken jaw.
It was a rough initiation to the role for interim coach Dean Solomon, with his side completely outplayed by West Coast.
However, former Essendon coach James Hird, who has his hand up to regain the role in 2027, isn’t putting the loss on Solomon, saying he was put in a difficult position.
“I thought they had a good 10 minutes in the second quarter, but after that the Eagles just got on top,” Hird told Nine’s Footy Furnace.
“I think it’s tough going interstate and obviously Dean got the job four days ago. It’s pretty difficult to change too much and also two key staffers left on him.
“They lost five experienced players to injury (from the Richmond game), a ridiculous amount of games going out (of the team).
“It wasn’t their best performance, but hopefully now Dean, with a whole week ahead of him to prepare for the Carlton game, can put a game plan in place and can imprint his name on the team.”
The third quarter frustrated Hird and Geelong champion Jimmy Bartel, with the Eagles moving the ball easily as they kicked five goals to two, blowing the match open.
“West Coast did it easily at times (in the third quarter),” Bartel said, highlighting the Eagles’ ball movement.
Hird pointed out a passage of play in the third quarter where West Coast received a free kick 50m from goal, kicked across to the other side of the ground where a wide open Tom McCarthy marked and strolled in for an easy goal.
Tom McCarthy on his own inside 50 despite huge Essendon numbers back. Footy Furnace
He called out the Bombers’ defensive accountability for allowing it to happen.
“It’s very poor. Look how much time they have to man up and then at the top of your screen there, that’s just unacceptable… whether there should be a forward rolling up, I know there’s a lot of players back, but that’s unacceptable.”
One team that has bounced under a caretaker coach is Carlton, who have won three in a row under Josh Fraser.
They will take on the Bombers on Sunday night.
