Essendon’s match committee will have several options to consider before the side heads to Perth to take on West Coast on Saturday.

The Bombers VFL side recorded a 92-point win over Geelong in the curtain raiser before the main game yesterday.

“Performances out of last night (in the AFL) will result in players not playing,” Essendon Coach James Hird told Triple M.

Several Bombers impressed in the VFL victory including Jason Winderlich who was making his return from a back injury.

Shaun Edwards kicked four goals and Nick O’Brien collected 37 possessions while Alex Browne and Jayden Laverde were also in good touch. 

Essendon has vowed to work harder on the training track in an effort to arrest a form slump than has seen the AFL side slip down the ladder.

After an impressive opening to the season, the Bombers have lost four of their past five matches. 

“The only way out of what we’re in is winning games of football,” Hird said. 

“We’re not using the ball at all well, we’re turning it over and our skill level is lower than AFL standard.

“We’ve certainly ramped up our skill work as opposed to our game style training to get that better.”

The Bombers made the early running against the Cats but were again off target.

The missed opportunities came back to hurt as Geelong kicked six unanswered goals in the second quarter.

“Our first quarter effort was definitely there, but the second quarter it wasn’t,” Hird said.

The 69-point loss to the Cats was the first time the Bombers have conceded more than 100 points.

Before Saturday night the Bombers biggest losing margin was 28 points.

The side has also lost three games by 13 points or less.

“Our players have performed very well for the majority of the year,” Hird said. 

“We’ve lost very close games and the second quarter last night was definitely our worst quarter. 

“That’s the first time really this year that I’ve felt the team haven’t turned up to play or let themselves down in terms of effort.

“You look at the coaching and say what do we have to change in terms of the way we’re teaching our guys or the message we’re getting through at training and in games as well.”

Essendon Captain Jobe Watson is a chance to return this week and he agreed the loss to the Cats was the side’s most disappointing performance, but he kept the result in perspective.

“We have been competitive in most games and with a chance to win most games at three quarter time,” Watson told 3aw.

“He (Hird) has got a very clear plan about how he wants us to play and he’s committed to doing that, as are the players.”