We’re not yet halfway through the 2019 season, but already it’s crunch time for Essendon.

At 4-6 after a disappointing loss to Richmond in last week’s Dreamtime at the 'G game, the Bombers are now in exactly the same position they were at the same stage last year.

From that point last season even eight wins in the final dozen games weren’t enough to grab a finals spot, so it’s going to have to be a sustained run of improved form if the Dons are to have a chance of doing so this time around.

It won’t be easy given the current state of the injury list, which has now also taken in Dylan Shiel and Jake Stringer. But it makes victory in a game like Sunday’s against the bottom team on the AFL ladder a non-negotiable.

As every Essendon supporter knows well, however, Carlton has managed to upset the Bombers’ applecart often enough in the past to make a win on Sunday seem anything but a fait accompli.

Against an old foe, nothing but 100 per cent effort and good execution will suffice. And here are five key questions, the answers to which will a go long way towards determining the result.

1. Why has Carlton caused Essendon so much trouble in recent years, regardless of its ladder position?

It may be a cliché, but when it comes to traditional rivalries, there are times when the phrase “no matter where they are on the ladder” is completely apt. This is one of them.

In the AFL era, results between the Bombers and Blues have often run contrary to form lines. Remarkably, there was also no fewer than three draws in the space of 18 meetings between 2006-14.

But Carlton has certainly in recent years been able to emotionally exploit its underdog status in these clashes, and perhaps the Dons, coming to expect a fired-up Carlton, may have had a tendency to overthink the ramifications of defeat in games they’ve been expected to win.

Essendon will obviously start favourite again this time, given the Blues are currently at the bottom of the ladder with just one win from 10 starts. But the Bombers’ injuries are such this week that they’re far from unbackable fancies. So, too, have the Blues largely been at least competitive in defeat, six of their losses by 19 points or less. Yes, that makes it another danger game.

2. How will the midfield hold up in light of more injuries to key on-ballers?

It’s impossible to sugar-coat the ramifications of the loss of first Devon Smith, and now Dylan Shiel, plus the centre clearance capabilities of Jake Stringer from the midfield mix. That is a valuable trio indeed, not just in terms of possessions, but contested ball, stoppages and tackles. But their absence also opens the door for others to step up and have genuine impact.

Darcy Parish, for one, has a big opportunity, after an excellent performance against Richmond in which he racked up 31 disposals, 19 contested possessions and nine clearances. The midfield is his natural habitat, and another strong showing here would make sure it stays that way even when the casualties return.

The Dons will need to rely on big games from skipper Dyson Heppell and Zach Merrett, and Kyle Langford and Andy McGrath may also see more centre-square time as a result, while David Zaharakis may have to do a little more grunt work than usual, too.

Darcy Parish is expected to play a big part in the midfield against Carlton. (Photo: AFL Media)

3. What do we do about Patrick Cripps?

The Carlton midfield bull is a hard man to stop, but GWS tagger Matt de Boer did a superb shutdown role on the Blues’ skipper a fortnight ago, really the only game this season in which Cripps hasn’t been a major influence on his team’s fortunes.

That said, Essendon doesn’t really have a negating run-with midfielder like the Giants. That doesn’t mean Cripps has to run amok, though. And one option to at least curb Cripps is to play a hard tag at the stoppages, where he excels, then a second opponent to attempt to exploit him on the outside.

Even reducing Cripps’ output in close would go a long way towards winning this game, as the Blues’ other leading mids such as Marc Murphy (injured), Zac Fisher and boom draftee Sam Walsh aren’t big-bodied types who can pick up much of the slack on the contested front if Cripps is kept quiet.

Essendon managed to win the contested ball by 27 even in defeat last week. Where it was beaten badly by Richmond was on the outside. Winning those contested battles against Cripps should offer the Dons a lot more opportunity to get their damaging running game going.

Patrick Cripps' influence will need to be diminished on Sunday. (Photo: AFL Media)

4. Essendon has been at its best when it has run hard offensively and moved the ball quickly. How can we make sure that happens again?

Firstly, by winning the inside battle. Then by exploiting the leg speed available out wide or through the corridor, which Richmond managed to thwart last week. Obviously, the midfield is a key to that. But so, too, are running defenders in Adam Saad and Conor McKenna, and perhaps the small forwards as well, hopefully Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, surely supplemented by another small forward this week, being given a little more licence to push harder up the ground.

Saad and McKenna were expertly dealt with by the Tigers last week, who blocked their run, and had so many small forwards the Bomber pair had their hands too full when defending to be able to create much.

Carlton isn’t likely to be able to exert the same amount of pressure, so expect the Essendon rebounders to be getting on their bikes as often as possible to help set up attacks.

5. The forward line remains a problem area. How do we fix it?

Without reaching for excuses, lack of continuity has been a big factor in Essendon’s scoring woes, with a constant procession of players, particularly the talls coming into the line-up and going out injured.

One of them, Mitch Brown, is at least back in the mix this week, and his presence would not only lighten the load on Shaun McKernan, but help maintain a dangerous structure, Brown’s tremendous work rate and running capacity always helping keep the 50-metre arc open and dangerous.

The bottom line, however, remains that the Dons haven’t managed any more than 10 goals in any of the last five games and last week just six from 51 forward entries. Essendon needs quicker, cleaner and more efficient delivery inside the arc on Sunday, and midfielders lowering their eyes more often and looking for medium-sized targets like Jayden Laverde and Josh Begley leading high and straight at the ball carrier would certainly help in that regard.

You can read more of Rohan Connolly’s work at his FOOTYOLOGY website.