“Bombs away”: Cornes and King unload on Essendon after defensive capitulation

Essendon fell well short of the mark on Saturday afternoon, suffering a miserable 61-point MCG loss to a cruising Adelaide outfit.

Despite managing 15 goals en route to 100 points - including an equal career-high four majors for captain Zach Merrett and three goals from debutant Tom Edwards - the Bombers conceded a whopping 161 points, with the Crows landing 36 scores from 63 inside 50s.

Kane Cornes expressed his deep concerns for Brad Scott’s side, as alarming statistics suggest that the Bombers’ season could be hanging by a thread after just two games in 2025.

“They conceded 129 marks, 20 of those were inside Adelaide’s forward 50, and the Crows had 12 individual goal kickers,” Cornes told SEN Breakfast.

“Essendon had 41 less disposals, yet were out-tackled by 12.

“At zero and two, this Thursday night game against Port Adelaide on their home deck already feels like a season-defining match.

“Lose that, and it’s bombs away on 2025.”

Fireball co-host David King was also thoroughly disappointed by the Bombers, piling the heat on Essendon’s back half.

Prior to the contest against the Crows, Kingy put the Bombers’ defence in the gun, stating that each member of the back six is capable of a quality performance and that he desperately wants to see them fire.

After conceding the largest score of the season so far, deciphering the next move for coach Scott appears an immensely difficult task.

King: “It’s going to be a big story for a number of weeks. This is just the start."

Cornes: “What did you expect though? What did you expect from this side?

“You said it was going to be the Crows show.”

King: “We put in the gun their back six, how did they go?”

Cornes: “Terribly. They were hung out to dry and (Mason) Redman was forced to play on (Taylor) Walker, and they were outnumbered all over the place.”

King: “Would you play Dylan Shiel again?”

Cornes: “I don’t know if they’ve got any other options.

“(Andrew) McGrath is in the mix as well. Incredibly disappointing."

King: “What do you do with Ben McKay?”

Cornes: “Well you have paid him a million bucks, that’s the problem.

“You can’t not play him. He was better this week than what he was the previous week.

“They’ve just got no other options."

King: “I don’t reckon Zach Reid is ready.

“Reid is just not ready. He just needs more footy, and it doesn’t have to be at AFL level.

“I just think they look so gettable down back at the moment.”

The Dons have already conceded 272 points in two matches. Next for points conceded is the Swans on 247 who have played three games.

There is already plenty on the line for the Bombers when they strive to avoid falling to 0-3 against Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night.