Essendon Coach James Hird says the team has much to gain from the final five games of the season.

The Bombers are in 15^th position and out of finals contention but Hird said the remaining games would provide a launching pad for next year.

“It’s not a write-off, we can’t make the finals, but it’s not a write-off,” he said.

“We’ve got a lot of young players we want to play, we want to make sure we know enough about players in terms of their futures with Essendon or not and we’d like to win a few games for our supporters.

“Our supporters have been incredible for the last three years and we’d like to reward them with some good performances and some wins.”

The Bombers welcome back Heath Hocking for the match against the Giants on Sunday.

It will be Hocking’s first senior match since the elimination final last season. 

“We’ve lost pretty much our whole inside midfield in Hocking, Myers and Watson and that’s really hurt us, but it’s given other people an opportunity,” Hird said.

Michael Hurley was named in the Essendon side on Thursday, but he has failed to overcome a knee complaint. 

Shaun Edwards returns to join fellow young players Joe Daniher, Nick O’Brien, Jayden Laverde, Kyle Langford and Marty Gleeson.

“It’s a young team, we didn’t play well enough on the weekend and the players know that but the spirit in the place is still very good,” Hird said. 

“The players, they come to training they’re excited, they’re happy and they train well so we’ve got to translate that into their performance on the weekend.”

Hird said it is important the club doesn’t just go through the motions in the final games of the season.

“As a coach you just want to instill in them that every game of AFL football you play in an opportunity to put yourself out there and impress.

“We’re playing for a very proud club and we want to reward our supporters and ourselves for all the hard work we put in.

“Our focus is really a about getting individuals to get to the best of their ability and get the most out of their career and also as a club – be proud of what we do and reward our supporters.”