Former Melbourne strategy coach Craig Jennings feels “there are better ways to do it” when it comes to putting your body on the line like Tom Doedee did in Friday night’s match at Marvel Stadium.
Doedee ran back with the flight of the ball deep in defence and collided with leading Essendon forward Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti in a huge clash of bodies.
“Unless you’re going back with the knowledge that you can hook around and intercept or get a spoil in, it just feels a little bit pointless to me,” Jennings said on SEN's Crunch Time.
“That's reckless going back, it’s something that I would try and coach out of players.
Tom Doedee with amazing courage going back with the flight. 🙏
— 7AFL (@7AFL) July 9, 2021
(watch on 7) pic.twitter.com/BoZxc1IzJV
“Some players play on instinct, they don't know any other way, but I think there are better ways to do it.”
The 24-year-old stayed down for some time, but was able to take himself off the field and was substituted out of the match.
The Crows lost by 63 points after kicking a paltry 2.9 (21) - the lowest score in the club’s history.
Doedee will likely miss the encounter with West Coast at Adelaide Oval in Round 18, but the Crows could welcome back spearhead Taylor Walker from a neck strain.