After being jeered off the ground by angry supporters, Essendon coach John Worsfold has implored his players to work their way out of a slump that sees them winless after the first two rounds.
Under fierce external pressure after their shock 11-point loss to St Kilda at Marvel Stadium, Worsfold said his players were extremely disappointed by the result.
Bombers coach John Worsfold during the side's loss to St Kilda.Credit:AAP
However he said the section of fans that booed the group at quarter time and after the game were wasting their time if they thought it was going to make the players feel worse about their early-season form.
"We're disappointed and we understand out supporters are disappointed," Worsfold said.
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"I hope our supporters understand our players are disappointed.
"They don't need to be booed to feel disappointed but that is everyone's right so we'll cop that, but the boys are working really hard."
He said he suspected the error-riddled performance in the first half was due to nerves created by their shocking lack of effort in the first round and admitted they were down on confidence.
He said the players must embrace the challenge ahead of them.
"If you get backed into a corner, you have got an option, concede or fight your way out," Worsfold said.
The coach, who has now won 24 of his past 46 games with the Bombers (with 2016, his first season at Essendon, a virtual write-off due to the suspension of key players), said he took heart from the response of the players to win the contested ball and inside-50 count and they would continue to work on their system.
"The players went out and played a better brand of footy but it wasn't good enough to win the game tonight," Worsfold said.
"It is how you deal with these really tough times which is going to be the mark of us as a club more than anything else."
The Bombers entered the season ready to atone from their disappointing 2018 when they won two of their first eight games before flyRead More – Source
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