Worsfold throws down challenge to Bombers

Apr 19, 2017 - 2:52 AM Essendon coach John Worsfold can deal with mistakes from his new-look side, but he won't stand for poor effort.

The Bombers' mixed form to start the AFL season has been little surprise considering their squad includes 10 players who sat out last year with doping bans.

After opening-round wins over Hawthorn and Brisbane, Essendon lost to Carlton and were thumped by Adelaide.

With the Anzac Day blockbuster against Collingwood around the corner, Worsfold is confident the Bombers' best form will eventually come as they build chemistry.

But he wants his players to lift their workrate after being left unimpressed by their efforts over the past fortnight.

"We felt as though our output, our absolute workload on game day, hasn't been at the level that we expect from each other," he said on Wednesday.

"The fact that we may make some mis-communications or not set up the ground brilliantly at times because we're getting to know each other - we can cop that.

"But the energy and effort to do that hasn't been at the level we would expect from each other and that's what we're aiming to improve on."

Worsfold raised eyebrows after the loss to the Crows when he spoke of his players having "hit the wall".

However he insists his comments only related to one or two individuals, including former skipper Jobe Watson, who was clearly fatigued during the final quarter at Adelaide Oval.

Worsfold admitted the veteran midfielder's workload would need to be managed but said there was no reason why he couldn't play every game this season.

"I think he can but I don't know if he will. I can't predict that," Worsfold said.

"His leadership and his passion at training has been outstanding. I've been so impressed. In that regard, he's ticking all the boxes."

Worsfold has also been impressed with Cale Hooker's new role as a permanent forward, saying he expected the 28-year-old to continue to grow into the role after a year out of the game.

A chief focus for the Bombers will be improving their leaky defence, although Worsfold stressed that wasn't just down to the backline.

"Defensively as a team, we are acknowledging - and be clear on this - we are miles short of where we want to be," he said.

"We're averaging nearly 60 inside-50s against, week-in, week-out, and that takes our forwards to defend better, our midfielders to defend better and our backs to defend better as well."

Source: AAP