Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Football
Netball
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
“There’s no gut run whatsoever”: Brad Johnson’s ‘Smiling Assassination’ of the Bombers
Sam Watson • March 25th, 2025 11:34 am
Western Bulldogs legend Brad Johnson believes Essendon’s lack of desire to run for each other is behind their poor start to the 2025 season.
After a 26-point loss to the Hawks in Round 1, the Bombers were split apart by a rampaging Adelaide side on Saturday, going down by 61 points at the MCG.
And it’s their poor effort from a running perspective that had them as the subject of Johnson’s ‘Smiling Assassination’ on Monday night.
“Outside of (Zach Merrett), there is no gut run whatsoever,” Johnson said on SEN’s Sportsday.
“There's run when you're going to receive the ball, but there's no run other than that. There's no run from one side to the other, or from half-back to half-forward to be engaged in three passages of play.
“That's exactly what's missing collectively from this group because they're being completely outnumbered at every contest.
“Even someone like a (Nic) Martin… who I really rate as a player, doesn't seem to be working as hard as what he did last year.”
Johnson also explained how big of a game it is for Brad Scott’s men when they take on Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night.
“If they turn up to Marvel and show us what they have for the first two weeks, then it's nearly written off (their season).”
Listen to Johnson’s ‘The Smiling Assassination’ below:
