While Melbourne would be thrilled with their come from behind with over Carlton on Saturday, Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd has highlighted an issue currently plaguing the side.
With Tom McDonald out injured and Sam Weideman out of form and playing VFL, the Demons’ key forward duties have fallen at Ben Brown’s feet, but Lloyd says the 29-year-old isn’t delivering.
After taking just three marks and kicking one goal in the win over the Blues, Lloyd says Brown’s timing when attacking the footy is “right out” as his form waivers in the red and blue.
“Looking at a negative for Melbourne it’s Ben Brown’s issues,” Lloyd said on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show.
“I highlighted Charlie Dixon last year and his issues, Ben Brown is a key forward who’s not making many marks.
“He’s running under it and going up with one claw as well, so I’m not sure how he thinks he’s going to take a mark of the footy.
“Some might say, ‘Isn’t he trying to tap it down?’, well let’s look.
“He took the odd mark, but again he’s running under the ball … his timing is right out.
“We see here he has one arm up, his positioning is terrible.”
Considering Brown hasn’t kicked more than two goals in his last 11 games, Lloyd pondered whether the key tall could face the axe as the Demons started with the likes of Jake Melksham, Max Gawn and Bayley Fritsch up forward on Saturday night.
“What I thought was telling last night was that they started him on the bench,” Lloyd said.
“I’ve never seen Ben Brown start off, he was on within five or six minutes, but they started Gawn forward and (Luke) Jackson in the ruck.
“So, it’s something to think about given how poorly he’s going.”
Brown will be hoping to return to form when the Demons face the Lions in a ladder-shaping clash next Friday at the Gabba.
"I'm not sure how he thinks he's going to take a mark"
— Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) August 14, 2022
Matthew Lloyd pinpoints the bad habit that's crept into Ben Brown's game that shows how out-of-form he is right now. #9AFLSFS | Watch on @Channel9 pic.twitter.com/900eq47rWT