AFL legend Kane Cornes believes Ben Rutten has given Essendon “one more chance” to prove themselves in 2022 with his choices in selection for Round 10.
The Bombers will clash with Richmond in the annual Dreamtime at the ‘G after once again being battered from pillar to post in the media during the week.
The tough period followed Essendon’s ten-goal loss to Sydney last week, while the players’ failure to stand up for Dylan Shiel was also highlighted in a bad light.
Ben Rutten’s side sits with a 2-7 record through the opening nine games, and Cornes speculated that if the club can’t bring their best footy to the MCG in Round 10, they might not have much to play for in the rest of the season.
“(Essendon are playing on the) main stage with one of the top five significant home and away games,” Cornes began on SEN’s Crunch Time.
“I think he (Rutten) is giving it one last roll of the dice. I think he's said to this group, 'this is the last shot', and if it doesn't go well tonight it could start almost a playing for the draft picks type scenario at the Bombers.
“They made one change, essentially one forced change... poor old Tommy Cutler, who is now back in, he was the only one who paid the price for the pathetic performance against Sydney last week.”
Tom Cutler was initially the only player dropped when teams were released on Thursday night, however the 27-year-old has since come back into the side after Jordan Ridley caught COVID.
Reading the tea leaves, Cornes speculated about the logic behind Rutten only making one change after last week’s disastrous performance.
“So the only thing he could be saying is, ‘right, this is it, this is your last shot and if we don't see an improved performance physically and if we don't see the ruthless approach that (I) put on the agenda during the week, then we are going to have to make some significant changes’,” he added.
“I just can't trust anything that has been said from Essendon over the last four weeks because we've heard the same things repeatedly.”
The Tigers come into Saturday night’s clash favourites, courtesy of their three consecutive wins coming into the game as Damien Hardwick’s troops look to lock themselves further into the top eight.