‘They are not playing the game to win’

Essendon legend Mark Thompson has blasted his former club due to its game style and lack of effort in recent matches.

Thompson said that irrelevant of the Bombers' depleted line-up, the team is not playing a style that can win games and it could hinder their development for next season.

“It’s almost like I think that they’ve accepted that the (thrashings) could happen for them,” Thompson said on AFL 360 last night.

“I’m more worried about how long it will take them to get out of this. They are not playing the game to win. They are not playing a style of footy that will win.

“It looks like to me they’ve said ‘OK, we’ll win a couple of games and finish bottom of the ladder and it doesn’t really matter how we play’.

“Essendon are uncompetitive and can’t even get in the game.”

The Bombers are currently last on the ladder with one win from the opening 12 games.