Essendon legend Kevin Sheedy says intense scrutiny of the Bombers in the opening fortnight of the season has been “an overreaction”.

The Dons have disappointed in both games so far, first beaten comprehensively by Greater Western Sydney before falling 11 points short of St Kilda last week.

While admitting it has been a tough start for the side, Sheedy said it is important not to jump on the team prematurely.

“Just like any other club, they have just jumped out of the barrier stalls in the Melbourne Cup – it’s a long, long way to go,” Sheedy said on The Essential Listen.

“I think it’s an overreaction, to be honest. (There were) many times I didn’t win the first two games over my stint as coach of Essendon.

“You’ve just got to get the boys’ confidence back and get it together.”

The Bombers were held goalless in the opening term of both clashes, and the four-time premiership coach said kicking the game off strongly should always be a focus of the pre-game coach’s address.

“Everybody gets annoyed and frustrated when you don’t play four good quarters, that happened to me.

“I always had that first quarter up. It’s like a cricketer, there’s nothing worse than going to a test match and you’re four (wickets) for 28 (runs) at the start of a test match.

“Or you get in the boxing ring and if you do not get the first round correct, you’re knocked out, you don’t get to round two.

“Starting (well) in games of footy, I always said, is one of the most important areas of a pre-match talk.”

To hear more of Sheedy’s thoughts on the Bombers you can listen to the full podcast below.

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