Former AFL forward Josh Jenkins isn’t surprised by Essendon’s defensive woes in 2022, saying they simply don’t have the personnel to restrict sides to low scores.
After playing finals in 2021, the Bombers have conceded the fourth most points so far in 2022, averaging just shy of 95 points against per game.
The penny appeared to have finally dropped when Essendon restricted St Kilda to 72 points and waltzed home to win by 35 in Round 14, however, they plummeted back to earth against the Eagles on Friday night.
West Coast kicked 107 points – their largest total for the season – prompting conversations about an apparent lack of desire to defend from Ben Rutten’s men.
However, Jenkins doesn’t share that view, instead highlighting a list management error that has left the club with an undersized backline.
“I’ve heard a lot of conversation (about Essendon showing no desire or intent to defend)… in my view that narrative is incorrect, we don’t really think that Ben Rutten and the coaching staff are not trying to implement a strong defensive structure,” he told SEN’s The Run Home.
“My view on it is they don’t have the personnel built to be a defensive group. Whether it’s getting the ball off the opposition around the contest… one thing they don’t have, and for the life of me, I don’t understand why they persist with the key backs they’ve got.
“Not because they’re not okay players or AFL players, (but) Jayden Laverde is tiny compared to (other backmen).
“That’s a list management issue, that’s an issue in terms of, ‘why don’t you have more big bodies’?”
Laverde, Jake Kelly and Jordan Ridley were the Bombers key defenders in Round 15, with the latter the biggest of the trio at 195cms and 93kgs.
34-year-old Josh Kennedy kicked five goals for the Eagles against Essendon and was almost 10 kilograms heavier than the heaviest Bombers defenders.
Using the example of Melbourne’s premiership-winning defence, Jenkins reaffirmed that the troops simply aren’t there.
“Laverde is tiny compared to the big bodies he plays on,” Jenkins continued.
“I couldn’t carry Josh Kennedy’s bags, but when you go out and prepare for a game and you know you’re getting a guy you’re two inches taller than and 12-15 kilos heavier than, you start licking your lips.
“You grow because you think, ‘I’m going to get great opportunities, if I can get up at the ball, if I get in a wrestle, I’m going to be able to move this guy around’.
“Ridley is the same. If you look at Jake Lever, he’s a big guy. He’s about 6’4”, probably 92-93 kilos, Ridley’s not as big as Lever but Lever still plays the intercepting role and allows (Harrison) Petty and (Steven) May to play the key roles.
“They’re all out of sorts with their personnel in terms of their defensive prowess.”
He called on Rutten to play to his list’s strength and adopt a more high-scoring game style.
“If we think back to (a few years ago)… When they’ve played well, their games at Marvel Stadium, it’s been attack, it’s been downhill, it’s been high scoring,” Jenkins said.
“I’m probably on an island, (but) why do we have to be a defensive team that keeps teams to 70? Why can’t we be a team that wins 115-105?
“They are not built to be a defensive powerhouse, they’re just not built that way. They don’t have the personnel around the ball, they don’t have the forwards with the intent to defend, and they don’t have the size down back, so what hope do they have?”
In 2021, Essendon had the fourth best attack, while their defence ranked the worst of all teams to play finals.
Jenkins also added that the poorer defence in 2022 was off the back of less pressure up forward, pointing to the retirements of Cale Hooker and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti alongside the quieter form of Jake Stringer.
Key defender Michael Hurley is recovering from hip and calf injuries and has not played in 2022, while top draftee Zach Reid and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher are the club’s key defensive depth.