Star Essendon defender Jordan Ridley is about for a stint on the sidelines as coach Brad Scott admitted the Bombers midfield appeared “tired” and “flat”.
After surging to an early lead towards the Western Bulldogs, Essendon had been comprehensively overwhelmed after quarter-time to droop to a 41-point defeat.
A win on Friday evening would have allowed the Bombers to go as excessive as fifth on the ladder.
Instead, Essendon might end the spherical as little as twelfth, placing their finals hopes in jeopardy forward of a crunch match towards Sydney subsequent Saturday.
Ridley left the sphere within the closing quarter with a suspected pressure to his proper quad and remained on the bench for the remainder of the sport.
Ridley will bear scans to find out any injury however Scott was not optimistic.
“I’ve been watching it as a footy fan (Aaron Naughton) v Ridley over the last few years and I thought he was great,” Scott stated.
“We will just get it scanned and hope he’s OK.”
Essendon led clearances 12-4 at quarter-time, however the Bulldogs ended the match forward 48-26 as Marcus Bontempelli and Tom Liberatore fully overwhelmed the Bombers.
“It was probably the first time this year where I thought our young mids looked a bit tired and a bit flat,” Scott stated.
“Who knows why that is but that’s the way it certainly looked to my eye so we struggled to get some spark and energy around the ball at quarter-time.”
Scott admitted dynamic forward-midfielder Jake Stringer was struggling together with his physique.
Stringer began the sport within the midfield, showing to be at his explosive greatest.
But like the remainder of his workforce, Stringer’s affect waned as the sport went on.
“Every player at this stage of the season is carrying something and Jake is no different to that,” Scott stated.
“Jake would never make excuses and he wouldn’t want me to make excuses for him either.
“We’ll should assume by means of that as as to whether the niggles that gamers carry at completely different phases influence their efficiency to the purpose the place perhaps it’s important to take into consideration having per week off to get it proper.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
