Essendon coach John Worsfold says his side will not hold back from the manic pressure that has defined its last fortnight and is ready for its next big challenge.
The Bombers recorded 91 and 85 tackles in their dominant victories over Geelong and GWS in their last two outings and Worsfold said they would need to maintain that effort to compete with Richmond on Saturday.
“I would say that our players weren’t holding anything back last week or the week before, so we want to go out with the same intensity and the same effort and we’ll see where it sits in terms of how it matches up against a different opposition again,” Worsfold said on Wednesday.
“We’ve still got a fair way to go in terms of what we’re all about and learning, but we’re enjoying the challenge of growing week by week.”
“Richmond, their games aren’t really contested games, so it may be a slightly different look this week.”
The Tigers sit second on the ladder after eight wins from its first 10 games with a healthy percentage of 133.4, and Worsfold said he expects to face another strong challenge against the 2017 premier.
“They’re the benchmark in certain styles of the way they play. They’re obviously the reigning premiers and they’re playing really exciting footy still,” he said.
“We just see Richmond not necessarily as the benchmark of the competition, but more as just our benchmark this week for what we want to challenge ourselves to bring.”
Key defender Patrick Ambrose will be forced from Essendon’s line-up this week after suffering a calf strain, but fellow defender Michael Hurley is likely to put up his hand to return to the side.
“Hurls – if he gets through training, which we fully expect he will – it’s great to have him available to look at.
“So that’s certainly one option, we’ll work through what our best blend looks like to take on Richmond’s forward line.”
Another defender catching the attention of Essendon fans is young gun Aaron Francis, who has impressed in the VFL since returning from indefinite leave due to mental illness.
While Worsfold didn’t suggest he would make his senior return this week, he said he had not been surprised by Francis’ encouraging performances.
“I speak to Aaron fairly regularly about that. His match fitness, we would suggest, is pretty much ready now.
“He’ll still get more match-hardened with more games under his belt, but all of his numbers now are at his best ever level. Aaron’s worked really hard and he’s been on a solid program.
“I’ve been watching what he’s been doing and I knew what his program was and we know he’s a really talented young man, so (I’m) not surprised, but really pleased for him.”
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