Matthew Lloyd, a legend of Essendon, has made a bold statement about his former team, calling them “the worst side in the competition.” This comes as young talent Archie Roberts passionately supported embattled coach Brad Scott, whose position at the club is under increasing pressure due to another wave of injuries.
Roberts also urged Essendon fans to continue their support after the club’s hopes for a much-needed victory against Richmond were dashed by a series of injuries. The Bombers are now sitting at the bottom of the ladder with a significant number of players sidelined ahead of upcoming matches against other bottom-four teams.
The situation at The Hangar, where the injury ward is once again crowded, mirrors the club’s struggles from last year’s second half. This adds complexity for the Bombers’ management when evaluating Scott’s performance as coach.
As Essendon supporters left the ground on Friday night following the Dons’ 23rd loss in their past 24 games, Bombers president Andrew Welsh and chief executive Tim Roberts were seen deep in conversation in the dressing rooms at the MCG. These discussions are common regardless of the match outcome.
CEO Roberts had previously expressed strong support for Scott, but the numbers tell a different story. The fourth-year coach has only tasted victory once in 365 days since the Dreamtime game last year and has won just 29 out of 80 games in charge at Essendon.
Before the latest round, the Bombers already had 12 players on the injury list. The situation worsened with injuries to skipper Andrew McGrath, midfielder Sam Durham, forward Archer May, midfielder Jye Caldwell, and small forward Matt Guelfi. Defender Jordan Ridley may return this week.
The Bombers face West Coast and Carlton, currently ranked 16th and 15th, in the next fortnight—games that looked winnable before the recent injury setbacks. Now, they will likely start as underdogs.
Lloyd criticized the team’s lack of confidence in ball use and pointed to the coach as being responsible.
“I think you are still responsible as the coach if you can’t nail your fundamentals,” Lloyd said on Nine’s The Footy Show. “That’s a coaching group, they have to be looked at. They have become the worst side in the competition. I think everyone would look at that and say how we got in this position?”
Roberts, one of the most promising young players in the rebuilding Bombers, stated that the players fully support Scott, echoing the sentiments of former captain Zach Merrett.
“I hope he knows, and everyone knows, that he’s got the backing of all the players because we absolutely love him,” Roberts, 20, told this masthead on Friday night. “I couldn’t speak any more highly of him, and I want him coaching me for the rest of my career, and I know everyone in this team does.”
“I want him to know, and everyone else to know, that he’s got my backing, and every person on this list’s backing, and we absolutely love him to death.”
Club chief Tim Roberts confirmed last week that Scott will remain as coach next year.
“Brad is part of the strategy, he’s totally aligned. From where I sit, absolutely, Brad Scott’s going to be our coach,” the CEO told Seven.
Archie Roberts called on Bombers fans to keep showing up and supporting the team. Despite the game being at Richmond, there was a strong presence of red-and-black supporters in the crowd of 78,815.
Roberts, May, Nate Caddy, and Sullivan Robey were among the Bombers’ better performers in defeat.
“I hope they see what we’re building and the future ahead,” Archie Roberts said. “This season’s not done, and we’re going to be taking it right up to every team we play this year, but I think they can see a lot of excitement.”
“We love you guys [the supporters], and they’re awesome every single week, every year. Please keep turning up because we need them going into games. We felt them tonight, and without them, we’re no chance.”
The young Bomber admitted the loss hit him hard.
“It’s very raw, to be honest,” Roberts said. “When you have confidence going into a game and you work your arse off week after week, not getting the reward, feel like you’re building, and then for that to wait to end the way it did is so disappointing.”
“I’m someone that sort of takes losses pretty hard. We’re going to go review it and go head over to WA next week and take it right up to West Coast. It’s going to be a tough weekend for me.”
Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.
