Essendon coach Brad Scott has come out deliberately with his team’s mantra, ‘The Essendon Edge’ in what is an attempt to lift expectations at a proud club that’s lost its way in the last twenty years.
Every club has a similar vein in terms of their trademark so it’s not new, just a public declaration that the team will be more aggressive, perhaps back to their glory days of 84/85 when they genuinely were fearsome.
Personally I’m not a big fan of this initiative of Scott’s. Actions speak louder than words so I hope for his sake the Bombers of 2024 can deliver on what’s been so boldly proclaimed.
When I heard this declaration before the Sydney game, my mind quickly went back to my era of VFL/AFL players who never really needed edge, they were simply blunt in their approach to their respective opposition.
They showed little regard or respect to their opponents and if you had the footy within a few metres of these guys, you had every right to be nervous. Physicality was guaranteed and inflicting pain was their only intent.
Some were more outwardly scary such as St Kilda’s Robbie Muir whilst others such as Terry Daniher were sneaky. What they all had was little fear and most copped plenty in return.
Here’s my team of ‘Blunt’s’.
Full Backline – Jeff Sarau (STK) Rick Kennedy (WB) Robbie Muir (STK)
Half Backline – Rod Grinter (Melb) Terry Daniher (Ess) John Worsfold (WC)
Centreline – Darren Millane (Coll) Greg Williams (Geel, Syd, Car) Merv Neagle (Ess & Syd)
HF Line – David Rys Jones (Car & Syd) Roger Merrett (Ess & Bris) Jim Buckley (Car)
FF Line – Leigh Matthews (Haw) Tony Lockett (STK & Syd) Dermott Brereton (Haw, Syd, Coll)
Followers – Carl Ditterich (STK & Melb) Tony Shaw (Coll) Tony Liberatore (WB)
Interchange – Matthew Scarlett (Geel) Ryan Crowley (Fre). Martin Pike (Fitz, Melb, NM, Bris) Gary Hocking (Geel) Ron Andrews (Ess) Neil Balme (Rich) Barry Hall (STK & Syd)
All of these guys had stellar careers despite being hated by the opposition supporters, or perhaps because of that?
They couldn’t get away with many of their actions these days but they certainly made their team mates play taller and with a bit more intensity, which is what Brad Scott is hoping for.
