This week felt like we visited a completely different restaurant compared to previous weeks, and it's not one I’m eager to revisit based on the four-course meal we were served.
The hors d'oeuvre was unappealing from the start, with a mix of ingredients that didn’t blend well and was hard to get through.
The appetizer looked promising on the plate and started well but left an unpleasant aftertaste by the end.
After a lackluster beginning with the first two courses, the main course finally delivered: perfectly seasoned, expertly cooked, and succulent with every bite.
However, the day ended on a low note with the dessert, which was poorly prepared, served, and disappointingly overcooked.
The hors d’oeuvre
Football games start in the centre square, and just like last week, everything went opposite to Essendon’s plans, with all five centre clearances for the quarter going North Melbourne’s way.
The Kangaroos have a season average of 11 entries inside their forward third per quarter, ranking last, and they only managed 13 entries for the quarter. However, five of these came directly from set plays inside the square, forcing the Bombers' defenders to scramble as a first priority instead of structuring up behind the ball to win it back.
Although only one of those entries resulted in a mark, it meant a lot of time was spent starting possession chains far from goal, making effective rebounds the first challenge.
Perkins to Davies-Uniake was an early wake-up call, and without the help of Merrett, who had a ball and chain attached in the form of Shiels, it was left to Caldwell and Durham to fight inside the contests. The two accounted for six of the ten contested possessions from midfielders.
Thankfully, post-clearance contests were working well behind the ball with Martin, Heppell, Kelly, Redman, and McGrath, and also ahead of the field with Guelfi and Gresham playing their parts.
Realistically, the Kangaroos aren’t likely to challenge your ball movement in most games, and here the Bombers were able to show their potential. From 25 possession chains, 12 went inside 50, and nine ended in a shot at goal—much more effective than the season average in just 20 minutes.
The appetizer
The second quarter began well with an improved effort to pressure and tackle inside, preventing easy exits and clean play. In the first quarter, Essendon managed only 13 tackles, significantly below their 2024 average of 20 per quarter, but they stepped up in the second quarter with 23 tackles.
Expectations were higher in the centre square, and this time Essendon gained a +1 advantage, which helped the defenders avoid scrambling to win the ball back. Early in the quarter, Essendon efficiently hit the scoreboard by finding marking targets inside the front third. However, as the quarter progressed, North Melbourne set up better at stoppages around the ground and tilted the contested game in their favor.
Essendon lost first possession at stoppages outside the centre bounce three to nine, forcing them to rely on intercepts, which they managed only 10 times for the quarter. They also lost contests 22 to 31, missing the contributions of Parish rotating through the middle, and Cox and Duursma in getting back to help win the ball back.
The main course
After the first two average courses, there was much anticipation for the main course. Here, the Bombers showcased their continued improvement this season in altering the game's look and flow.
Clearances no longer had the same impact they did in the first half. In the first quarter, post-clearance contested possession both ahead and behind the ball was where Essendon was most successful. Now, this success was evident everywhere.
The Bombers dominated the contested numbers 48 to 23, with 27 of those in the middle of the ground. This led to an advantage of 38 disposals, 25 more kicks, +11 inside 50s, 11 shots at goal for the quarter, and a 55% efficiency inside 50 from 27 possession chains.
The attacking setup worked, and so did the defensive side. Over 78% of North Melbourne’s possession chains were ended by intercepts, with five of these intercepts turning into goals.
Finally, everyone felt nourished.
The dessert
After such a wholesome and fulfilling main course, there’s nothing more disappointing than a bland and unadventurous dessert to finish off the meal. Despite seizing control in the previous 20 minutes of play, the Bombers squandered their opportunities in the final 20 minutes.
It wasn’t just the familiar clearance losses from the first half; it was also the impatience in building up possession chains for more meaningful entries into the attacking zone.
With 15 inside 50 entries for the quarter and only 26.6% of them turning into a shot at goal, the efficiency was poor.
Kicks were blindly sent into outnumbered areas or the wrong spots, and entries were too shallow to apply any forward press to prevent the Kangaroos from rebounding. Additionally, the inability to win the ball back from North Melbourne any better than every 6.56 possessions contributed to a dissatisfied ending.
Digesting it all
Due to North Melbourne’s struggles since early last season, Clarkson had to shift his defensive strategy from a modern zoning approach through the midfield and defensive line to a simpler one-on-one accountable method.
Essendon has encountered this style on a few occasions this year, and as part of their ongoing development, it’s something they need to continue improving on.
The first time Essendon faced this setup this season, they failed miserably against Port Adelaide. While North Melbourne's performance is far from the Power’s level, experiencing this mode again is beneficial for Essendon's long-term growth.
One-on-one defending can expose weaker or slower matchups due to the lack of coverage and support a zone defence provides. This approach increases the frequency of contests and places greater importance on winning those contests. It also tests work rate when the team has possession, requiring players to work into the more available space in a one-on-one setup and often sacrifice their own game for their teammates.
Both times this season the Bombers have faced this type of game style, their opponents have outworked them into space when in possession.
North Melbourne’s 110 marks matched Port Adelaide’s 110 marks in round four, testing the Bombers’ work rate that must improve as the season progresses.
While I appreciate the approach in and around immediate contests with numbers and support the Bombers are using in 2024, improvement can still be made when the opposition has the ball.
In this game style, better teams will execute with more precision going forward and inside 50 than North Melbourne can, thus putting more pressure on the defensive capabilities of the back six, seven, and eight. However, as the players gain more experience in this mode, the team will be in a better position as the year progresses.
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