Essendon's defensive shortcomings were laid bare in their heavy loss to Port Adelaide, with the Bombers lacking energy and cohesion. In the first term, they were passive and relied heavily on handball, a tactic that Port Adelaide picked apart with ease.
The team's defensive struggles have been a recurring issue under coach Brad Scott. A pre-season documentary showed players in a classroom setting, seemingly absorbing lessons on team defence, but these have yet to translate onto the field. Port Adelaide moved the ball with little resistance, with key players Zak Butters and Jason Horne-Francis finding space at will.
Before the match, former Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley mingled with his old players, a reminder of the challenge facing new coach Josh Carr. Essendon, meanwhile, had entered the season with optimism after president Andrew Welsh described the group as the most "united, motivated and galvanised" he had seen. Zach Merrett also spoke of excitement and energy at the club, but that optimism has now dissipated.
If Essendon cannot learn to defend, they will continue to be exposed by other clubs. The manner of this defeat, following a similar loss to Hawthorn, raises serious questions about their ability to implement a coherent defensive system.
