Robert Shaw says the specific tasks assigned to four of Essendon’s first year players this season has helped fast track their improvement.

Michael Hartley, Matt Dea and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti have played every game so far and have become central parts of the Essendon defence.

Mitch Brown has also figured in each match and played his best game on the weekend, booting four goals.

Shaw said the quartet are Essendon’s most improved players this season and the difficult tasks they’re being assigned each week is helping fast-track their development. 

“I look at Essendon’s four most improved players and they aren’t Essendon’s four most talented players,” Shaw said.

“Mitch Brown, in the forward line, has now – on goals, marks, leads – has taken over from Joe Daniher as our most effective forward.

“If I said that 12 months ago, you would have laughed at me. 

“Matt Dea was not seen good enough to be at Richmond.  Michael Hartley has played at Coburg last year and McDonald-Tipungwuti is a great football story. 

“They have all got responsible jobs, three of them are in defence so each week they are locked into a real challenge. 

“One of the great learning experiences you can get is to play on a player (and), respond to the challenge.

“If you look at those four boys, they’ve had to do that every week and their improvement has been significant.” 

Shaw said the same sense of responsibility could be applied in the midfield this Saturday when the Bombers meet Richmond. 

“Richmond’s midfield has been boosted by the return of Miles,” Shaw said.

“Deledio, Cotchin and Martin are working very well as a unit.

“Can Parish go head to head with Cotchin – he certainly can.  

“Make it a target for the kid and to me, that’s learning. 

“Learning is not about just freewheeling through the midfield.  If we freewheel through the midfield against the calibre of those players and the potency, you’ll get the same result.”

The Bombers will be looking to rebound after a 46-point loss to St Kilda.

After an even first half, the Saints ran away from the Bombers after the major break.

Shaw said the differences were the centre clearances and Essendon’s inability to apply enough forward line pressure.

“There is some talent that goes through there, but to get smashed 20-6 (centre clearances) through there put an enormous amount of pressure on the backline,” he said.

“The forward line pressure was non-existent.  There were three tackles made inside the forward 50 that just means the ball is coming in and going straight out.

“What compounds that problem is Essendon only took ten marks inside 50 compared to 23 by St Kilda.”