Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd has torched the current playing group after they began their 2026 season with a 10-goal thrashing.

Following an even first quarter at the MCG on Friday night, Hawthorn raised the tempo – and Brad Scott’s team were miles off the pace.

All eyes were on Zach Merrett early after his attempt to join the Hawks in the trade period – and he delivered, kicking a classy goal.

It proved to be one of few highlights for the Bombers, with their rampant opponents piling on 13 goals from 23 shots on goal in the second and third quarters.

Lloyd – a premiership player at Essendon who also booted 926 career goals for the club – didn’t mince his words about the horror show at the MCG.

‘They were out of their depth, they were so poor defensively,’ Lloyd fumed on 3AW Radio. 

Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd has labelled the current Bombers playing group ‘out of their depth’ and ‘lazy’ after they were thrashed by Hawthorn on Friday at the MCG

All eyes were on Zach Merrett (pictured, left) early after his attempt to join the Hawks in the trade period – and he delivered, kicking a classy goal – it proved to be one of few highlights

Essendon have now lost 14 games straight, with their last win in May last year against Richmond (pictured, head coach Brad Scott)

‘It is the way they lost, alarm bells would be ringing. Watching it live, the players don’t know what to do. A lot of them were lazy.

‘I’m really concerned at what I saw. It is deflating, because (for me) it has been a weakness of the club in Brad Scott’s time (as head coach).’

Essendon have now lost 14 games straight, with their last win in May last year against Richmond.

And if Scott can’t quickly galvanise his playing group, he could be the first head AFL coach to be sacked in 2026.

Despite the one-sided result, Scott was encouraged after promising debuts from Dyson Sharp (two goals) and Max Kondogiannis (15 disposals).

‘There are reasons to be optimistic,’ he said. ‘We’ve just got to execute better than we are at the moment, (and) pretty quickly.

‘Our (playing) group is resilient, but there’s a gulf between where we are right now and where the best teams are.’

The Bombers next tackle Port Adelaide on March 22 before a clash with fellow battlers North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium six days later.