ESSENDON great Tim Watson has called John Worsfold a "battle-wearied, old coach" who must fix the Bombers' woes immediately.
Friday night's MCG match against Melbourne is a crisis clash for the two teams, who languish at the bottom of the ladder with 0-2 starts.
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There is some good news for Essendon, with Melbourne key defender Steven May ruled out because of a groin injury, but otherwise Watson says the clock is ticking on the Bombers.
After making a disastrous 2-6 start last season, Essendon was much better in the second half of the campaign.
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Their strong finish to the year and the recruiting of Greater Western Sydney midfielder Dylan Shiel raised expectations that this season would be different.
Instead, fans booed them during Saturday's upset loss to St Kilda.
I don't mind the booing at all. Those Essendon fans have stuck through thick and thin over the years - Tim Watson
"The pressure builds internally when you lose games," Watson told Channel Seven's Talking Footy.
"John Worsfold is a battle-wearied, old coach.
An Essendon fan gives John Worsfold some tips during the R2 clash with St Kilda. Picture: Getty Images
"You remember his days at West Coast - they went through some pretty tough times there and he stood his ground, he stayed the course.
"The expectation now for all Essendon people is that he'll pull the right levers and get this right.
"But it can't be in six weeks' time that he gets this right - he needs to get it right this week."
The former Essendon captain also had no problem with fans booing their own players, saying they have the right.
Watson noted the supporters' loyalty through 2013-17 during the Essendon supplements debacle.
"I don't mind the booing at all," Watson said.
"Those Essendon fans have stuck through thick and thin over the years.
"They're still turning up in their thousands."
Meanwhile, Watson doubted James Hird would return to Essendon as a coach despite growing speculation he could return to AFL coaching.
The AFL suspended Hird for his role in the supplements saga, and when he returned, the Bombers' great eventually lost his senior coaching role at Essendon.
"I can see him going back into coaching - not necessarily (at) Essendon ... given the circumstances around his period of coaching," Watson said.
"I just don't think it would be right for him to go back. I don't think the club would want him to go back into that coaching role, either."
