ESSENDON will be looking for a win against Hawthorn on Saturday afternoon at the MCG, to avoid slipping further away from finals contention.
The Bombers return from the bye in Round 12 with a 4-7 win-loss record, two wins behind eighth-placed Richmond.
They have lost their past three matches – to West Coast, Geelong and Richmond – by an average margin of almost seven goals, but the Bombers will fancy their chances against the Hawks, who they defeated by two points in Round 2 this year.
ROUND 2: Highlights and report from Essendon's nail-biting win against Hawthorn earlier this year
Essendon coach James Hird will be looking for a much-improved output from his side this week, after a 50-point defeat to the Eagles before the bye.
“Certainly when you lose you like to you want to get back on the horse and work,” Hird said after the Round 11 loss.
“It’s been a long first half of the year and it’s been a long couple of years so I think the players need a break.”
The Bombers went into the match without a recognised ruckman, dropping out of form big man Tom Bellchambers and leaving forwards Jake Carlisle, Joe Daniher and Patrick Ambrose to compete against Nic Naitanui.
“We knew we had a struggle against us without a recognised ruckman… in the end (it) was just too far out of whack to compete in that area,” Hird said.
Refreshed from the bye, Hird said yesterday his side was confident in its game plan, despite the past three weeks in which the team has managed outputs of eight, seven and six goals.
“We’re playing a game plan that we’ve played for two or three years now. We tinker with things all the time, but we’re confident the way we’re playing is the right way,” he said.
“We’re playing a game style where we put defence ahead of attack.
“We want to keep our defence strong and that sometimes that affects your attack.”
Players to watch
Essendon captain Jobe Watson collected 31 disposals against the Eagles after missing the previous match with injury, and alongside the likes of Dyson Heppell and Brendon Goddard, provides the Bombers with drive out of the middle.
When Watson fires, the Bombers are dangerous – and the tough midfielder’s 33-possession game against the Hawks in Round 2 was instrumental in his club’s victory.
The Bombers also boast a number of strong key defensive options, with Cale Hooker and Michael Hurley regularly among their sides’ best players this season.
The duo combined for 43 disposals and 23 marks against the Eagles, offering a presence in the air and rebounding out of the backline.
Potential changes
Plenty of names have been thrown into the mix to return for Essendon this week.
Midfielders David Zaharakis and Jason Winderlich could be in contention, while either Jonathan Giles or Shaun McKernan will most likely come in to play in the ruck after the Bombers elected not to play a specialist ruckman against the Eagles.
Ruckman Tom Bellchambers and speedster Travis Colyer will be sidelined through stress fracture injuries, while Heath Hocking will return from injury through the VFL.
Dustin Fletcher is considered a slim chance of overcoming a groin injury, while Courtenay Dempsey and Jackson Merrett could push up after strong performances in the VFL a fortnight ago.
