Former Essendon star Tim Watson has implored Bombers forward Joe Daniher to watch tape of the AFL’s best current day forwards in a bid to help him overturn his form slump.
Daniher didn’t pose a threat during Essendon’s 36-point loss to the Demons on Sunday, collecting 11 disposals, taking five marks and kicking just 0.3.
The 2017 All-Australian forward has booted just seven goals from six games to start the season, and is struggling to impose himself on the contest.
“This is what I would do if I was at Essendon this morning. I’d get hold of Jack Riewoldt’s tape,” Watson told SEN Breakfast.
“I’d sit Joe down and I’d say Jack Riewoldt wasn’t this player three years ago. This is what he has become though as a key forward in the game.
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“Watch his work rate, watch his ability to selflessly lead sometimes with no intention of getting the ball, but because he creates a vacuum of space behind him.
“I think that Joe is caught in a bubble of his own performance and how he plays and that happens to all of us.
“This is how I can fit into our forward line and this is how I best serve my team’s performance and I’m not going to get the ball every time, but there’s so much I can do as a forward even when I don’t have the ball.
“By watching someone else you can sometimes pick those things up.”
Melbourne legend Garry Lyon believes Essendon’s midfielders are actually choosing not to kick the ball in Daniher’s direction.
“I firmly believe this, I believe they’re taking the option not to kick to him,” Lyon told SEN Breakfast.
“He just didn’t put himself in a position where he’s going to be a target, he’s playing on Oscar McDonald, who’s had a really good year, but he can struggle with big forwards because he’s undersized.
“I don’t reckon Oscar had too many nervous moments with Joe yesterday because Joe didn’t get to the dangerous positions.
“So it’s work rate, intent, it’s game knowledge.”
With the Bombers at 2-4 and in 14th position, Essendon’s clash with Hawthorn on Saturday looms as a huge test for John Worsfold’s side.
