Essendon manager Brad Scott highlighted his team’s efforts at the festival after a damaging 47-point loss to St Kilda at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.
The Bombers were crushed 123-106 in contested possessions and allowed the Saints 49 more points (149-100), adding +23 in the third period where Scott’s team went from a nine-point deficit at halftime with forty-five in the final break. Training
“The end result is incredibly disappointing, but even more disappointing is the lack of effort and aim that has been shown for most of the year,” he said.
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“Especially in the third quarter, our effort and intent in the game were really lacking and the game was lacking.
“It doesn’t take much in this game to take a look at the pace of moments. If you give up in this area, and today we look at the third category, that is the most disappointing aspect.
“Clearly the result (is disappointing), but we are in the process and if you put so much effort into the competition. . .
“And really, three quarters of the way down, I just simplified it to show a little effort in the competition, if you don’t have that as a base, which has been the base for us this year, then you can’t beat anyone. »
The Bombers then lost the fourth quarter by 8 points, which seems like a slight improvement from last season when they lost by six goals.
In their sixth loss in eight games, the Bombers lacked pressure from the start, as the Saints took six undisputed points to less than 50 in the first period, going from thirteen to 16 points in the fourth, after accumulating five direct points . .
The Bombers, whose final hopes were by a thread, fought back with the next 3 majors, but fell short thereafter.
Scott’s frustrations carried over to his team’s inability to block the ball up front in the 17. 6 (108) to 8. 7 (55) loss.
“We knew St Kilda were going to try to get the ball, and it’s bitterly disappointing, we didn’t take it away from them at all, they were in the game.
“And when we put any semblance of pressure on them, especially in our forward 50, our complete inability to apply pressure, and when we implemented some pressure, they just kicked the ball out of the defensive 50 in minus one. Compete and score it and we ended up getting between 16 and 5 disputed ratings.
“You can’t apply pressure when that happens, you can’t get back into the game on your terms when that happens.
“There were a lot of things in the setting that were disappointing, but our combat in the air and on the ground is the most important thing. “
The 10-1-8 Bombers will face Fremantle at the MCG next week before returning to Marvel Stadium to face the Gold Coast and Sydney; They then ended the season with a clash in Brisbane at Gabba.