Across its final four matches of the 2018 home and away season, Essendon’s fight for a fourth straight finals berth is likely to go down to the wire.

Following a stirring triumph against Box Hill in round 12, the Bombers went down to top two sides Casey and Richmond before slipping out of the four with losses to Werribee and Collingwood. Essendon has seven wins from 14 matches, percentage clear of Footscray and North Melbourne.

In his maiden season at the helm, coach Dan Jordan says Essendon will need to produce “four-quarter performances” and ensure efficiency when playing defensively and offensively if his side is to play finals.

“We’ve got three top eight sides coming up, so ultimately our fate is in our hands.”

Results aside, Jordan says that the development of AFL-ready players has been a success.

Jordan points to the AFL debuts across this season of Matt Guelfi (12 matches at senior level), Jordan Ridley (three), Kobe Mutch (three) and Dylan Clarke (one), all of whom made their bones playing at VFL level, as proof that the VFL program is bearing fruit.

“Plenty of boys have been given opportunities to play out of position or in different positions and they’ll hopefully reap the rewards of that experience with their development.”

Ahead of the Bombers but within arm’s reach are Box Hill, Collingwood and Port Melbourne (eight wins).

Just one match separates fifth-placed Box Hill and tenth-placed North Melbourne with finals aspirants set to come up against each other frequently between rounds 17 and 21, so positions in the top eight will be hotly contested.

Although Essendon has squared off against four top six sides in its last five matches, Jordan’s side is far from out of the woods. Seventh-placed reigning premier Port Melbourne awaits the Bombers on their return from the bye at North Port Oval followed by a road trip to take on Geelong in round 19.

Essendon will round out the 2018 home and away season against fellow finals aspirants Footscray and the Northern Blues.