Performance Coach Dan Jordan is hoping the Bombers young VFL listed players can draw on the experience of their senior listed teammates when the side takes on Geelong on Saturday.
Essendon and Geelong are looking to atone for last-start defeats and sit on the fringes of the top eight.
“Obviously it’s a pretty big game, we are tenth on the ladder and Geelong are eighth, so it’s pretty crucial,” Jordan said.
“Tenth and eighth, it’s a classic cliché eight-point game.
“It’s important that we can go and try and get a result.
“We’ve obviously got a few guys returning at AFL level and a couple of guys coming back from injury (including) Ben McNiece, Kyle Langford, Aaron Francis, Ben Howlett and Brent Stanton.
“There is a wealth of experience there, hopefully our younger guys can draw on that. There is also some good young boys coming through.
“Hopefully we can get those guys playing and pushing for senior selection again, and also adding to our performance on Saturday.”
The Dons can expect a fast paced game from the Cats when the sides square off at Windy Hill.
Geelong has averaged 156 handballs per game over the first four matches.
“They like to move the ball pretty quick so our defensive side of our game is going to have to be right on to try and nullify that,” Jordan said.
“They had a good win in round one and then also in round three, then a couple of losses where they were probably in the game, not dissimilar to us.
“They have a pretty strong side in with a few returning as well at AFL level, which pushes a few back.”
Werribee and Port Melbourne have overrun the Bombers in the last two weeks.
Jordan said side has focused on tidying up its delivery in the attacking half.
“We were in the game for periods of time but probably just lost ourselves with a little bit of execution and finishing off up forward,” he said.
“We’ve been doing a bit of work on that, hopefully we can put that into play this week.”
Essendon vs Geelong
Saturday May 13
Windy Hill
12pm
B: 60. B McNiece, 50. J Ferry, 25. A Morgan
HB: 8. M Gleeson, 10. A Francis, 39. H Hocking
C: 54. N O'Brien, 5. B Stanton, 57. N Hind
HF: 20. J Merrett, 51. A Boyse, 30. K Langford
F: 77. N Holmes, 44. S McKernan, 16. J Begley
R: 2. T Bellchambers, 40. B Howlett, 24. C Bird
I: 62. M Luxford, 63. M Darby, 56. J Peters, 65. O Uysal, 34. J Long, 27. M Redman, 37. D Clarke, 38. S Draper
23p: 69. A Marklew
