Melbourne great Garry Lyon has questioned why Essendon omitted Dylan Clarke from its line-up to take on Fremantle on Saturday night.
Clarke has played 10 games this year averaging 16.2 disposals and 6.6 contested possessions per match.
Lyon was baffled by the decision to drop the 20-year-old midfielder, who has played important tagging roles on some elite midfielders in the competition, including Carlton's Patrick Cripps.
“Six weeks ago, we were sitting here on various radio and television shows putting up the numbers of Dylan Clarke and the impact that he’s had at Essendon and the opponents he went to,” he said on SEN Breakfast.
“He’s been dropped. That’s a fall from grace. I’m sorry but that’s a massive fall from grace.
“Someone that was said to be integral to the way that they turned it around during that winning period.
“I understand the ins are pretty damn good as well. That’s a head scratcher.”
Essendon legend Tim Watson understands the call but does think it’s an interesting one.
“I think that they believe his - and a lot of other players - performances weren’t up to scratch and they don’t want to go with that type of player anymore,” he said.
“They don’t obviously want to go with a stop-type, run-with player which is interesting given that they’re going to come up against Fyfe, Hill, Walters this weekend.”
Watson says young midfielder Brayden Ham, who has been included in the side this week, could be used to play Clarke’s role against the Dockers.
“(With) Ham, it’s horses for courses,” he said.
“He’s very slight but he’s a great runner, he’s got the capacity and they probably think okay, we need somebody that can run potentially with someone like Brad Hill, which they will think he’ll be capable of doing.
“He hasn’t got the class yet of somebody like a Brad Hill but he can get up and down the ground.”
Clarke was one of five players omitted for Essendon’s clash with the Dockers at Optus Stadium.
Mark Baguley, Josh Begley, Ben McNiece and David Myers will also not be lining up for the Bombers.
Listen to Garry Lyon and Tim Watson discuss all the selection news in the player below: