FORMER AFL coach Brenton Sanderson has detailed why he doesn\u2019t see Essendon as a contender this season.<\/p>\n
The Bombers have defied expectations in Brad Scott\u2019s first season at the helm, firmly entrenched in the finals hunt.<\/p>\n
However, Sanderson has his eye on several key areas that lead him to believe the Bombers don\u2019t stack up among the rest of the eight.<\/p>\n
\u201cI said it a few weeks ago and I was probably the first person that sort of said I just don\u2019t like Essendon\u2019s profile,\u201d he told SEN Mornings.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re a really high disposal side, they\u2019re the number one marking team in the competition, they\u2019re fifth in disposals but they\u2019re 15th in inside 50s.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo they share the ball around, but they don\u2019t generate enough inside 50s.\u201d<\/p>\n
That\u2019s\u2019 led Sanderson on to his second worry: the Bombers\u2019 stoppage game.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re ranked last in clearances this year,\u201d he said. \u201c[Darcy] Parish and [Zach] Merrett are both having excellent seasons, but even last week, the Dockers outscored Essendon by 40 points from stoppage.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a concern for me as well, their ability to win stoppage and clearance against the good sides.\u201d<\/p>\n
Essendon\u2019s issues also extend to the defensive side of the ball, with the Bombers ranking poorly when it comes to tackling.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe other thing that concerns me is that they\u2019re ranked 16th for tackles, so even last week against the Dockers, they had 69 tackle attempts for only 35 tackles,\u201d Sanderson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThirty-five tackles is a really low number, that\u2019s just over one per player in the game, their tackle efficiency rate was around 50 per cent.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey can\u2019t find a way to pressure when it really matters, they can\u2019t win contest and clearance against the good sides, and they\u2019re a high-possession side that doesn\u2019t generate inside 50s.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Sanderson detailed plenty of reasons why he isn\u2019t sold on the Bombers, he is impressed by their rise this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love what they\u2019re doing this year, I think Brad Scott\u2019s appointment has been excellent, the stability around the club and they\u2019re fun to watch,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just don\u2019t think they\u2019re going to be a finals contender, just with the current profile they\u2019ve got.\u201d<\/p>\n