Essendon Performance Coach Hayden Skipworth says the Bombers will consider a number of options to come into the side to replace the injured Orazio Fantasia.

The small forward, who has booted 38 goals this season, will spend the next five to six weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring strain.

Jayden Laverde played two games while Josh Green was injured last month, while Josh Begley has been in top form in the VFL.

“We’ve got some guys waiting for an opportunity,” Shipworth told The Footy Panel.

“We brought in Laverde pretty much straight away as soon as he was right, so he’s an option.

“We’ve got Begley who has had a really good year first up in the VFL, so we’ve got some options as far as genuine forwards.

“If not, we can pick another midfielder and push (Darcy) Parish or one of those guys forward a bit more.

“We’ve got some good players in good form in the VFL – we’re spoilt for choice at the moment.”

Essendon is ranked third in the competition for goals scored this season with an average of more than 14 per game. 

But accuracy has been an issue in the last fortnight with the Dons kicking a combined 24.37 across the games against Western Bulldogs and Carlton.

“We encourage our guys to get out there and have as many kicks as they can and keep refining their skills,” Skipworth said.

“We know where we’re at with our goal kicking but we’ve got a vision to be a really accurate team.

“Up until a couple of weeks ago we were top four for accuracy, we were kicking above 60 per cent which holds you in good stead throughout the year.” 

Cale Hooker missed two set shots during the last quarter against the Blues, but converted a goal late in the game to put the Bombers in front.

“He is a very mentally strong person and nothing really gets him down,” Skipworth said. 

“He’ll keep fighting and keep contesting right until the very end, so I wasn’t too concerned for that last one.”

Essendon has used 35 players this season. Only four clubs have used less.

The continuity makes it hard for young players to break into the side but Skipworth said Sam Draper and Kobe Mutch are among the players to show promise at VFL level.

“Draper has been a pleasant surprise – Adrian (Dodoro, List and Recruiting Manager) and Merv (Keane, Senior Recruiting Manager) plucked him out of nowhere,” Skipworth said.

“He's from the SANFL under 18s but had a soccer background.

“He basically didn’t do any pre-season because of tendonitis in his knee, but he’s developed physically and his game has developed really well throughout the season.

“He’s probably still a couple of years away, being a young ruckman.

“Kobe Mutch is probably the one that hasn’t had an opportunity, other than Begley, that has performed really consistently on the wing.

“We pushed him inside in the last few weeks and he’s been able to find the footy as an inside midfielder as well.

“We’ve got some really exciting kids coming through so the competition for spots is really hot, so we haven’t been able to blood too many this year.”