Former Hawthorn great Ben Dixon has called for Essendon to sack senior coach John Worsfold.
The Bombers were smashed by West Coast by 55 points in Thursday night's elimination final in Perth to end a season that begun with aspirations of advancing deep into September.
It continued Essendon's long-running drought of not winning a final since 2004.
And Dixon has pleaded for the club to make a ruthless decision, who he believes were the most disappointing team in the first week of finals.
“We’ve just seen four finals and the biggest disappointment for mine is Essendon — and I’ve been big on this. I think there is a big statement coming and there has to be a big statement right now for the supporters and that footy club,” Dixon told The First Crack podcast on Saturday night.
“For two years now they’ve just dragged the chain and the numbers don’t lie. When you talk about game style, he has had two years with this game style that is no good; it is not working; they have no forward half presence; they are bottom five in every forward half stat you want; they are nowhere near it.
“I honestly think the coach has to go. You need someone in there that can change that football club’s game style.
“They have gone backwards, yet they’ve played finals this year. Tells you a little bit about what we’re looking at.
“The only reason I say that is that — and it is a strong one to go with — I haven’t had anyone from the football club come out and support him.”
Two-time premiership Kangaroo David King suggested that Essendon replace Worsfold with Ross Lyon.
“If your job is to put a senior coach in place to coach for your life and you’ve got a choice tomorrow between Worsfold and Lyon — who is available and who whether you like it or not has been a very successful coach in a different way — you are torn between two polar opposite coaches,” King said,
“I think 60 plus per cent of people would choose Ross Lyon at this very moment. I think Essendon fans are a fraction off with the coach.”