With some key personnel returning to the team this week, coach James Hird is expecting to see an improved contested effort against the Crows.

The club has had an unlucky year with many of its star players succumbing to injury at some stage through the season.

Essendon’s midfield has been the hardest hit with key midfielders Jobe Watson, Heath Hocking, David Myers and ruckman Tom Bellchambers missing for the majority of the season.

A lack of experience has been obvious on the field as the club has struggled particularly around the contested ball and in their ability to win centre clearances.

 “We have our game style which has been hampered by the personnel that we’ve been able to pick and injuries we’ve had particularly around the contest,” Coach James Hird said.

“In the past few years we’ve really done well in the contested ball situation, this year we’ve been quite poor.

“That’s potentially been because of a number of key personnel that we’ve missed.”

In 2014, Essendon averaged 12.7 centre clearances per game – the fifth highest in the league, while in 2015 they have only managed 10.7 so far – slipping to 15^th overall.

Heath Hocking’s return last week demonstrated the importance of experience around the contest. The 27-year old had a stable return, working hard to help organise play both on and off the ball to ensure his younger teammates were in the best position to have an impact.

Hird believes the return of David Myers this week will be another asset to the team.

“We’ve got Hocking and Myers back in the midfield, Heppell in the midfield,” Hird said.

“Hopefully that will lead to a better contested clearance rate than we’ve had in the past.”

The midfielder has played less than 30 seconds of the 2015 season, after injuring his shoulder in round one against Sydney.

Myers has worked hard to return to full fitness playing several strong games for Essendon VFL on his road to tomorrow’s comeback.