'Right to boo': Bombers ruck Shaun McKernan says fan criticism 'deserved'

Essendon great Matthew Lloyd has savaged the Bombers' capitulation to the Western Bulldogs as among the worst performances in the AFL club's history.

Essendon conceded an astonishing 21 consecutive goals in a 104-point loss to the Bulldogs on Saturday night.

Bombers ruckman Shaun McKernan says angry supporters had every right to boo players during the stunning defeat.

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"They have got the right to boo," he told Channel Seven's Game Day program on Sunday.

"They're obviously pretty passionate supporters ... and obviously we have to own it as a group and know that we don't stand for performances like that."

Lloyd, a former Essendon captain and the club's leading goalkicker in 12 seasons, said players deserved the "venom" from fans.

"They were horrible last night, Essendon, one of the worst performances in the history of the club," Lloyd told Channel Nine's Sunday Footy Show.

"The amount of people leaving at halftime, three quarter-time, angry, the venom towards the players for a lack of effort."

The Bombers hold seventh spot on the ladder but Saturday night's defeat followed a 59-point loss to Port Adelaide.

Essendon meet Fremantle in Perth and then Collingwood before the finals.

Coach John Worsfold described the Bulldogs loss as out of character.

"The message to the players is that we deserve all the criticism that we get for what we dished up but that's not who we are," Worsfold said post-game.

"These guys have represented Essendon brilliantly for a big part of this year so far and had some wonderful wins.

"We have had a poor loss so we'll cop the criticism."