Essendon's defensive woes leave no margin for error as 2022 AFL season hangs by a thread

If you were to believe the shouting from talkback radio and certain sections of the media, Essendon's 2022 season was over before it really began.

Even fans in the north of Melbourne fretted about a year potentially lost, five months from the end of the home-and away-season.

The AFL season is a grind, not a sprint. There are hard schedules, and then there is what Essendon has faced off against so far.

Despite this, the Bombers appear to be floundering in a sea full of AFL giants. Their defence has been constantly under threat, with mercurial Docker Matt Taberner the latest to enjoy a day out at the expense of Essendon.

Are the defensive concerns facing Ben Rutten and the Bombers due to their tough schedule so far, or a sign of far more significant issues?

Defending isn't just defending in modern footy — it's also the anchor for the attack. Winning the ball and generating scoring opportunities is critical.

As a result, teams are often forced into the debate of how defensive their defensive set-up should be, and how aggressive their ball movement should be.

Last year several clubs took the leap forward to a bold counter-attacking strategy, one with exciting ball movement opening up opportunities for forward lines.

At the cusp of this new trend were finalists Essendon and Sydney.

Attacking footy isn't just aesthetically pleasing, it is often winning footy in 2022.

For the Bombers last year, the quick ball movement helped generate marks and scoring opportunities inside 50, despite having fewer taller marking opportunities than other sides.

After taking the reins in 2021, Ben Rutten backed a new-look defensive unit, one that had strength in its mobility and athleticism.

A mobile backline can provide both defensive cover and attacking