Western Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney says now is not the time to panic despite admitting to being filthy at his AFL side’s 84-point loss to Essendon.
Essendon jumped the Bulldogs early in their round-14 clash at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.
The Bombers kicked seven goals to one in the first quarter on their way to a 21.14 (140) to 8.8 (56) victory, handing the Bulldogs (5-8) their eighth loss this season.
Bulldogs ruckman Will Minson, back from a one-match ban imposed by the club for using insulting language, kicked three goals in an impressive comeback.
Midfielders Tom Liberatore and Matthew Boyd also worked hard in a dark day for the club.
In their past four matches, the Bulldogs have lost three games by an average margin of 78 points.
McCartney said his side had started slowly against Essendon but showed some spirit in the second and third terms before a last-quarter fadeout which he described as the “smelliest” part of the game.
After leading by 39 points at the first break, Essendon could only outscore the Bulldogs by 18 points in the middle two quarters but ran away with the game with a six-goal final term to the Bulldogs’ two majors.
“There might be some external panic with this. There’s none internal,” McCartney said.
“We’re filthy with how we’re playing, though. We’re really disappointed in what we’re dishing up.”
McCartney said he would continue to focus on teaching his brand of football, which includes being smarter with the ball.
The Bulldogs had 48 inside-50s to Essendon’s 54 but had only 16 scoring shots to the home side’s 35.
One of the Bulldogs’ most skilful players, 2011 All-Australian Rob Murphy, broke down with a hamstring injury and was subbed out at halftime.
Murphy told Seven’s AFL Game Day he hoped to miss only one match.
Midfielder Ryan Griffen is nursing a bruised calf muscle but is expected to be fit for next Sunday’s game in Perth against Fremantle.
Mitch Wallis, Mark Austin and Ayce Cordy will return next week after being rested against Essendon, McCartney said.
“We’re in a situation where we can (say) ‘woe is me’, or we can fight our way through it,” said McCartney, a former Essendon and Geelong assistant coach.
“It was only 18 months ago they (Essendon) weren’t playing great footy. Now they’re playing great footy.
“I’m confident we’ll get there.”