Watson reacts to Essendon’s 0-2 start

ESSENDON sits seventeenth on the ladder after two rounds following a last-second loss to Hawthorn and a smashing at the hands of Port Adelaide.

The Power were far too strong on Saturday, kicking 18 goals and winning by 54 points.

Bombers great Tim Watson said his expectations remain low for his former side in 2021.

“I think this is what every Essendon fan needed to do at the start of the season and that is lower your expectations about where they’re going to be at this year,” he told SEN Breakfast.

“What I wanted to see was the semblance of a different way of playing. I wanted them to be more physical around the ball, I wanted them to compete harder for longer and I wanted them to have the capacity to shut teams down, make their decisions earlier around the ball.

“And there’ve been moments when they’ve been able to do that. I fear the three injuries they copped on the weekend.

“Garry spoke about how well (Sam) Draper was going in the pre-season and now they need to find a replacement in the ruck.”

Draper (ankle), Jye Caldwell (hamstring) and Dylan Shiel (knee) were the big injuries for the Bombers out of Round 2.

Shiel has dodged the dreaded ACL bullet, but is still expected to miss up to two months.

Essendon go in search of their first win of 2021 against St Kilda at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.

– BY NIC NEGREPONTIS/ SEN