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Bomber lockdown “not ideal,” but not to blame, says Worsfold

ESSENDON will not blame his interrupted leadership for Saturday’s last loss to Carlton, despite coach John Worsfold admitting that he is unsure of the impact of the uncertain preparation.

BLUES IN A NAILBITER Full game coverage and statistics

The bombers’ game against Melbourne last Sunday was postponed and Essendon players had to isolate themselves in their homes from Saturday to Tuesday after defender Conor McKenna tested positive for COVID-19.

McKenna and teammate James Stewart, who was considered close to the Irish, service their mandatory 14-day quarantine.

It was tight for a few days to prepare for the blues in the MCG, and the bombers barely stayed to stay undefeated – Jacob Townsend’s shot on goal, which would have won the game over the bombers in seconds, touched the goal line and Carlton picked up a point win.

Worsfold said he was not sure what impact the unprecedented week had on his side.

“I’m not an expert, I don’t know how you might measure it, but it is obviously not ideal if your players are locked up at home from Saturday afternoon to Tuesday afternoon,” he said after the game.

“But overall I thought that their attitude to get out of it and support Conor and James and still try to focus on preparing for the game was really good.

“I don’t know how it affects you overall as far as the feeling that they ran out there tonight. Did you feel physically at the top of the game? Didn’t you feel right physically and mentally? Me Do not know.”

Essendon matched Carlton’s level at three-fourths, then scored the first two goals of the last quarter to gain a 12 point lead before the Blues battled back to win.

After a brilliant striker performance by Levi Casboult and Mitch McGovern, who had teamed up in a low for five goals against the Bombers, Carlton’s narrow game continued (they lost one point against Melbourne in the second round and beat Geelong last week by two points) -scoring matter.

David Cuningham was also excellent in midfield with 28 departures, while co-captain Sam Docherty scored 31 goals in an intelligent and creative display.

Coach David Teague said the blues victory was another example of his team’s evolving maturity.

“You have to win these games and you have to be there. Probably we haven’t been in these games for too long. It’s great that we get there. The boys think they’ll age me very quickly (with the scarce results),” said Teague.

The 2-2 start of the blues into the season is the best month to open a campaign since 2012, and after they haven’t reached the final since 2013, hopes are beginning to grow that Teague’s forces might be able to do.

“We have to play our best footy and that’s what we focus on every week, but we feel like we can compete and win every time we get to a game,” said Teague.

“I will not quantify our gains and losses, but we want to stick to the way we do it and how we do it.”

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