Former Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson has some concerns about Essendon despite their strong start to the season.
While the Bombers sit seventh with a 7-5 win-loss record through 12 games, Sanderson isn’t as bullish on Brad Scott’s side as some others are.
Sanderson’s concerns with the Dons particularly revolve around their game plan which he doesn’t feel works as well as others in the modern game.
“I might be on a bit of an island here,” Sanderson told SEN Whateley.
“But I’m not as bullish about Essendon as what the general feeling is now around the industry.
“I do think they’ve improved a lot, I think Brad Scott’s a great appointment.
“It’s so much fun to watch him play at the moment but I think there’s some, there’s some accounting stats at the moment which just concern me a little bit with their profile.
“They’re a high possession, high kicking team that makes a lot of mistakes
“They are a high mark team, which I just don’t know if that’s a positive in the modern game.”
Referencing the competition’s top two sides, Sanderson feels the Bombers are trending away from what the best are doing which may eventually come unstuck.
“I talked before about the way that Collingwood and Port Adelaide are playing at the moment which is low possession, fast and direct, and Essendon are just playing a little bit of that keeping off game,” Sanderson explained.
“But they give up too many marks to the opposition.
“Even when Essendon win, they still let their opposition take 100 marks per game, when they lose, their opposition takes 111 marks per game. That’s way too much.
“If they can’t work out this sort of high possession kicking game, I just think that’s going to come unstuck.”
Despite his concerns, Sanderson expects Essendon to play finals while he’s also tipping them to beat Carlton in Round 13.
Even if they have a strong home and away season though, he pointed out several aspects of their game which could come back to hurt them in September.
“They’ve got a pretty good draw in the back half of the year,” Sanderson said.
“There’s a lot of winnable games, I think they’re going to play finals, that’s not what concerns me.
“They’re low pressure, 16th in tackles, they’re 16th in clearances, they’re not fantastic around stoppage and clearance and they’re a high clanger team.
“I just don’t think that high-possession game is sustainable when they come up against the top teams in finals.
“I don’t think it’s going to be a game plan that’s going to have success when it really matters later in the year.
“Their profile just concerns me a fraction, but I still think they’ll beat Carlton.”
Sunday’s clash between Carlton and Essendon is set for 7.15 pm (AEST) at the MCG.