Despite a slow start to the season due to a combination of injury and the inexperience, the Essendon VFL side is capable of making the finals as it heads into this weekend's final round. The Bombers have not been in the top eight all season, but if two results fall in its favour this weekend, they could find themselves amongst the September action.

Essendon play the Bendigo Diggers on Saturday at Windy Hill. There are no certainties in football, however Bendigo has not won a game all season and the Bombers defeated them by 103-points in their last encounter in Round 5 at Bendigo. Most football watchers would agree, the Bombers are odds-on favourites, especially after its 64-point confidence-boosting win against Williamstown last Sunday. However, not only do Essendon have to beat Bendigo, they have to win by more than 20 goals and rely on Port Melbourne to beat Sandringham on the weekend - to finish in the top eight.

Sandringham are currently in eighth position and boast one more win than the Bombers and also a healthier percentage. If Sandringham does lose against fourth-placed Port Melbourne side and Essendon beats the Bendigo Diggers by more than 20 goals, then Essendon will make the finals. For each goal Sandringham gets beaten by, the Bomber's required winning margin is reduced.

With a finals berth at stake, young players such as Marc Bullen and Ted Richards firing, and the possibility of experienced players such as Mark Mercuri and Steve Alessio returning to the line-up, Essendon have a good chance of finishing on ten wins and hopefully making the finals. VFL fans should get down to Windy Hill this Saturday and get behind the Bombers' push for the finals.