Robert Shaw says Essendon is defying external pre-season predictions by getting stronger as the season wears on.

The Bombers came close to recording their second win of the season on Saturday against Richmond.

Over the last month, games against GWS and St Kilda were also up for grabs in the last quarter.

“The general football population saw them dropping off but the balance of the side and the influx of young legs has seen the opposite,” Shaw said.

“These boys are hungry, they’re using this as a really good stepping stone.

“It gives them great momentum going into 2017 and it certainly helps Adrian Dodoro and his list management team assess them under senior pressure.

“You couldn’t ask for anything more, but it’s disappointing they haven’t been able to give themselves a pat on the back and say we deserved that win.

“Hopefully that comes this week.”

Shaw said Essendon is benefitting from the continuity its young group is getting from playing alongside each other each week. 

The Bombers fielded 13 players with less than 50 games experience on the weekend. 

But among that group Mitch Brown (16 games this season), Orazio Fantasia (15), Matt Dea (15), Darcy Parish (15), Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (15), Marty Gleeson (14), Michael Hartley (13), Kyle Langford (13) and Patrick Ambrose (12) have featured regularly throughout the season.

“Blokes that are playing all the time get used to the system, they get used to playing and they gain a lot of confidence from having the coaches trust in them,” Shaw said. 

“We’re seeing the emergence and continual improvement of our younger players. 

“That was an enormous positive and they look like they are now comfortable in AFL football.”