Garry Lyon and Tim Watson have both questioned Essendon in the wake of their Friday night defeat to GWS.
The Bombers led by as much as 29 points early in the third quarter of the Round 10 clash at Metricon Stadium before they eventually lost by four points.
The John Worsfold and Ben Rutten coached side has now lost three of their last four games to slide to 11th on the ladder, highlighted by problems with the game style which has restricted them to four scores under 65 during that stretch.
It prompted a Dons discussion on SEN Breakfast.
Lyon said: “I’ve got it written here - Where are Essendon at? I’m not sure I know.
“They had a crack and worked really hard on Friday night to get themselves in a position, but they didn’t kick a goal in the first quarter, they kicked six goals in the second, kicked the first goal of the third quarter to go 28 points up and then didn’t kick another goal until the dying moments.
“When they’re on they can score and they look like they’re capable.
“But after that goal from (Sam) Draper (in the opening minutes of the third term) they could not move the ball from their back half to their forward half at all. They didn’t look like it.”
Former club captain and premiership player Watson says the issues that have been plaguing the Bombers for the last few years are continuing to have a negative impact.
“It still seems to me that problems that have beset them over the last few years are still the things they need to correct in their ball movement, their game style,” he said.
“They just can’t lock the ball inside their attacking 50. Therefore they get rebounded on too easily and sides score too regularly against them.
“There are lots of things they need to work on before they are considered to be a top side and a real contender.”
Watson continued: “I can’t see that they’re a flag contender right now.
“They brought in (Blake) Caracella for the ball movement side of things. Obviously (Ben) Rutten had been at Richmond too with that program there.
“I think what they have to do is find a balance of the way they want to play and what they’re capable of doing and how they’re playing.
“I don’t know if they’ve struck that yet. There’s challenges that have been associated with that for every team this year because of the lack of cohesion with the training they are allowed to get (due to COVID-19).
“But I don’t think they are close to winning a flag at the moment.”
Lyon concluded: “They’re not consistently in my thoughts when I’m thinking of the top teams.”
The highest score the Dons have kicked this season so far is 79 which came against Sydney in Round 2. All of their other eight scores have been between 67 and 28, showing a lack of power in attack.
The Bombers next take on Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium on Wednesday night as they look to stay in touch with the top eight.