Matthew Lloyd expressed his discontent with Essendon’s performance against the Western Bulldogs during a recent match that ended in a hefty 91-point defeat. Sitting under the roof at Marvel Stadium, the game quickly showcased a dominating Bulldogs side that secured 11 out of the first 12 goals.
Lloyd highlighted a stark contrast in the styles of play between the two teams. He observed that the Bulldogs employed a direct and aggressive ball movement, whereas Essendon resorted to a sluggish and often lateral approach. This proved to be detrimental to their effectiveness on the field.
Lloyd shared his frustrations on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show, pointing out the discrepancy in goal entries, with the Bulldogs achieving 61 inside 50 entries compared to Essendon’s 37. He lamented Essendon’s tendency to move backwards and sideways rather than pressing forward, coining the term “Bomber crabs” for their lackadaisical movement. He stated that this backward play is often easily countered by opponents, as seen when Essendon attempted to flank the ball to the wings, which allowed the Bulldogs to set up their defence effectively.
He emphasised that the Bulldogs capitalised on Essendon’s strategy, causing turnovers and exploiting gaps in their defence. This pattern of play led Lloyd to declare the match “humiliating” for Essendon, as they were outplayed by a superior tactical approach.
Prior to this round 10 encounter, the Bombers had secured five wins out of their last six games, raising expectations for a top-eight finish among fans and pundits alike. However, Lloyd cautioned against overzealous enthusiasm, citing concerns that the victories, mostly against lower-ranked teams, may have been misleading. He specifically mentioned the hype following their recent win against Sydney, arguing that expectations need to be tempered.
As Essendon prepares to face Richmond in the much-anticipated Dreamtime at the ‘G match in round 11, the team will be keen to bounce back and reclaim their standing after this disappointing loss. The pressure is now on the Bombers to demonstrate they can learn from their previous mistakes and perform better on a significant stage.