Essendon VFL Performance Coach Mark Corrigan says tomorrow night’s game against reigning premiers Footscray is crucial in setting up the Dons season heading into the bye.
The two sides are placed sixth (Footscray) and seventh (Essendon) on the ladder.
Both teams have four wins to their name.
“It’s really important for us to keep our nose in front of that 50/50 ledger,” Corrigan said.
“When you’re sitting around the same mark as the teams you’re playing then obviously it’s almost like an eight point game.
“It’s super important to set up our season going into the bye.”
The Bulldogs are coming off the back of a bye after beating Sandringham by 99 points in round six.
“They are going to be pretty formidable to be honest,” Corrigan said.
“It looked like a pretty good win against Sandringham and we know they are getting some players back.
“No matter what, Footscray have always been tough when we’ve played them previously. They play a similar brand of football to the AFL side.
“They bring that competitive, contested side every week. We’re expecting another really tight and hard contest.
“Hopefully we can come out on top.”
The last time the sides met was in the 2016 semi-final when the Dogs knocked the Bombers out with a 19 point win, the same winning margin they had in their round seven clash.
“For a few of the boys it might be a distant memory but in saying that, the boys bring the same mental application each week irrelevant of what has happened in the past,” Corrigan said.
“For a couple there might hopefully be a little bit of redemption there.”
Alex Boyse will return after being rested last week.
He has booted 16 goals from six games and is currently fourth in the league in the Jim ‘Frosty’ Miller Medal count.
“Boyse had a big workload up until last week so we decided it was a good opportunity to manage him and give him a week off,” he said.
“He has been in super form, so he will come straight back into the side this week for us.”
Footscray’s key forward Mitch Honeychurch has also dominated, named among the best in all five games he has played this season.
He has booted a total of 11 goals and averaged four marks this year.
“He’s a really smart forward on-baller, if he’s not checked closely he can get a hold of you so we have a few options to put back on him,” Corrigan said.
“I’m sure Dan Jordan (VFL Performance Coach) has put a lot of thought into who goes to him because he is a key player for them.”
The game will take place on a Friday night, a rare occasion in the VFL but Corrigan says the side is well prepared and ready for the challenge.
“Coming off a six day break it’s a slightly lighter training week. In terms of what we do, nothing too dissimilar to what it would be normally,” he said.
“Most of our guys have played some night footy along the way so they all know what to expect.”
