Misfiring Essendon forward Joe Daniher could still be a late inclusion after he was dropped for Saturday night's Dreamtime at the 'G clash against Richmond.

Bombers coach Mark Thompson played his cards close to his chest when quizzed about the 20-year-old by reporters on Friday.

"He (Daniher) is just unlucky. He's had eight (or) nine games in a row and it's a good opportunity to have a good spell if he doesn't play," Thompson said.

"I think he's been fantastic, I think his output's been first class. It's not because of poor form or because we don't like him anymore.

"It's just because he's played, he's young and he's had big workloads and we're looking after him.

"We think he's got an enormous career in front of him and we have a responsibility to look after him.

"And I find when you rest young ones you get a better result by the end of the year."

Daniher has seemed short of confidence this season, only booting eight goals in nine matches before the Bombers had the bye last weekend.

It is expected he will line-up in Saturday's VFL clash against Richmond at Punt Road, but Thompson would not confirm this.

"He might, he might play AFL yet," the Essendon coach said.

"Our squad's not really determined. There's a few concerns we have to get through.

The boom father-son prospect trained with the Bombers' main group on Friday but was used as a defender, while Jake Carlisle was stationed at full-forward.

Young midfielder Dyson Heppell trained away from the main group.

The Bombers' goal-kicking options should be improved by the return of Paul Chapman from suspension alongside Jason Winderlich and Ben Howlett.

At 4-5, Essendon is in a scrap to play finals and could land a near knockout blow to the 13th-placed Tigers' top-eight ambitions with a win on Saturday night.

But the Bombers themselves have been less than convincing in a 2-4 run since demolishing Carlton in round three, and midfielder Brent Stanton denied on Friday that the looming prospect of show-cause notices from the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority was affecting the players.

"No, I don't think so. It's been going on for 16 months and we've dealt with it in a way that we need to," Stanton said.

"We can't control that. The only thing we can control is winning games of footy or playing consistent footy and playing the way that we need to.

"I think that's the most important thing."

More to come.