Essendon felt the effects of a heavy workload during Sunday’s 37-point loss to Fremantle – its third fixture in 13 days – according to John Worsfold. 

The Bombers were fast out of the blocks against the Dockers with sustained midfield pressure, clean foot skills and a high work-rate crucial in gaining a 13-point quarter-time lead. 

And while Fremantle regathered itself in an even second term, Worsfold’s men threatened to break the game open with free-flowing play through the corridor. 

But Essendon’s running-intensive game style executed in 30-degree heat took toll in the second half as the fresher Dockers – coming off an eight-day break after three weeks in Perth – piled on 12 goals to four in a 50-point turnaround.

Speaking after the match, Worsfold acknowledged his team was outrun after half-time and felt the effects of difficult conditions. 

"Both teams were running around (in the heat) so it’s not as big a factor as it may be but that on top of our schedule and it was tough – the players looked pretty physically stressed, in that last quarter especially," Worsfold said.  

"It is a fact that it’s been a pretty tough three games.

"Fremantle were definitely running stronger than us in the second half.

"I thought the boys hung in there really strongly in the third quarter but could not match them in the last quarter."

Essendon made six changes to its round six team following five the week prior, in part to combat its demanding roster.

And while the team emerged from the match with a clean bill of health, Worsfold flagged further changes to face Geelong next Saturday night, before a well-earned eight-day break ahead of round nine. 

"(Making changes) is something we have to consider," Worsfold said. 

"We had three or four guys rested this week so we’ve got that to look at, (we need to) assess form of players and how they’re tracking physically.

"There’s guys that are on our radar for workload that we’ll have a look at this week, which we will do over the next 48 hours."

Worsfold also commended the efforts of returning midfielder David Myers (13 possessions) in his first since round 20, 2015 and confirmed former captain Jobe Watson would likely return next week.