Kevin Sheedy has turned the heat up on the struggling Bombers, declaring they have a duty to lift and provide a ferocious response when they take on Geelong on Saturday afternoon.
The 2-6 Bombers are under siege, the pressure rising after a 13-point loss to a previously winless Carlton, amid threats from coach John Worsfold that there will be changes at selection.
The Bombers have struggled for fluency with the ball and have lacked a physical presence or "trademark", prompting four-time premiership coach Sheedy on Monday to urge them to replicate the uncompromising and tough manner Worsfold had when he was captain of West Coast.
Sheedy, admittedly, did not have the Bombers in his top eight in his pre-season predictions but has been disappointed in the manner of the defeats.
"I thought we were too young to get there this year. I think we are another year away from it, personally, at least, and, hopefully, we would peak for our 150th year [in 2021]," he said.
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"I would just like to see a team play to the best of their ability with ferocity. That's what I like about watching Richmond at the moment. They are not a great talented team but they are a great team. That's what I like about watching Tigers. When you have the ball against Richmond, it's very hard to get through them at the moment – they all play like Damien Hardwick. I just want everybody [at Essendon] to play like 'Woosha', and I would be really happy."
Worsfold has also been a source of public frustration, with club great Matthew Lloyd questioning his tactical nous on game day. Worsfold, having recently negotiated a new deal, is contracted until the end of 2020, so it would appear highly unlikely there would be change regardless of performances this year.
The Bombers are sinking.
Photo: AAP
Sheedy said Worsfold, a premiership player and coach with the Eagles, needed to remain positive.
"Just through hard training, smart thinking, belief system and, of course, I lost 240 games at Essendon as a coach, that's 11 years I drove home losing, but I haven't lost my confidence, I can assure you," he said.
Then came the kicker, aimed squarely at the players.
"If you are an Essendon player, and you really want to play, you play well this week when we are starting great games like Anzac Day [against the Magpies] and Dreamtime [against Richmond] and Country [festival against the Cats]. You have got to play well and be prepared to make sure you turn up better than what you did on Anzac Day. There is no doubt about that," Sheedy said.
The Bombers were crunched by 49 points by the Magpies on Anzac Day, but have two showpiece matches remaining, the first against the Cats this weekend.
In his heyday, Sheedy could have relied on a Dean Wallis or Roger Merrett to act as an enforcer when the team was struggling. Those days are over but Sheedy still expects a physical statement.
"I reckon sooner or later, there could be, well, not a war because, well, why not? I think the first quarter is going to be something you won't want to miss," he said.
Lloyd has also claimed the Bombers, despite sharing the most flags with Carlton, are no longer a "great club", having not won a final in 14 years.
Sheedy, who works in ambassadorial role for the Bombers, insists they "will always be great club".
"If you are not winning games, you have got to be looked at – that is fair enough – but it does take that long to get back into a position where you might have a chance [of a flag]," he said.
"Whilst it's been disappointing this year so far, it's amazing where Sydney went to … from where they were this time last year. You can turn it around quickly."
The Swans lost their opening six matches last season but would recover to make the finals.
Sheedy also fired a veiled shot at Lloyd, a player he helped shape into one of the game's greats.
"Matthew Lloyd is a full-forward, that's all he played – one area of the ground … full-forwards are great at kicking goals, and that's what their job was," he said.
"He is a lovely guy, Matthew, but never coached really, never been involved seriously in a football club from a point of view of developing club. His job is media now, and he has got to make outlandish statements like that, and good luck to him. He is a good-looking colt and I like him, because he kicked 926 goals for me."
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Jon Pierik is a sports writer with The Age, focusing primarily on AFL football, cricket and basketball. He has won awards for his cricket and basketball writing.
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