Matthew Leuenberger was one of the Bombers shining lights against Port Adelaide according to former coach Robert Shaw.

The ruckman picked up 11 possessions, had four tackles and won 33 hit outs.

“I thought he was terrific – I thought he gave a real contest, his follow up work on the ground was excellent, he was prepared to use his body to pave a way for his small men,” Shaw said. 

“I thought his actual tap work was very good. 

“I’d like to see him mark around the ground – it’s an area of his game that he can still improve. 

“But it was a really big tick for me for Matthew Leuenberger, I thought he was fantastic.” 

Leuenberger will come up against new Geelong ruckman Zac Smith this Saturday in the first ever ‘Country Game’.

One of the key areas Shaw expects Essendon’s coaching staff to address in the lead up to the game is the side’s first quarter performances. 

In the three matches so far this season, the Bombers have conceded 13 first quarter goals and scored four.

“The rest of the quarters it has been 32 goals to the opposition and 25 to Essendon,” Shaw said. 

“We’re certainly in the game and more than competitive – it’s just those slow starts.” 

After quarter time, the Bombers kicked six goals to Port Adelaide’s ten, with the home side able to generate run from half back.

Quelling that rebound is also an area Shaw said the Bombers would need to improve in.

“(Jasper) Pittard – who is a running machine – and (Matthew) Broadbent – who is a very smart half back – they’ve accumulated 60 possessions between them,” Shaw said.

“John and his coaching panel would be extremely disappointed about that lack of pressure inside the forward 50.

“It’s a recurring theme – when we do it really well we’re right in the game.”