Essendon this week enjoys a hard-earned rest after their come-from-behind win over the Western Bulldogs last weekend, before resuming training on Friday.

The Bombers now sit seventh on the ladder after the first half of the split round and have well and truly put their hat in the ring for the finals race.

With a handful of games remaining after the bye, it’s time to pose the five burning questions with five games to go.

Can the Bombers secure a finals berth?

Essendon have suddenly risen from as low as 12^th on the ladder to be in contention of a finals spot after winning eight out of their last 11 matches.

On the way they have also knocked off other contenders in a similar position in Adelaide and Collingwood to tighten their grip on a top eight position.

The job is far from over and the team have a huge challenge on their hands following the bye when they travel to Sydney to face the ladder leaders in their own backyard.

A win against the star-studded Swans will stamp the rise of Essendon in the competition and go a long way to playing football in September for the first time since 2011.

Can Jake Carlisle continue his rare vein of form?

It’s the question that’s on everyone’s lips whether or not ‘Buckets’ can sustain this sort of form heading into the latter part of the season.

The 198cm man-mountain has been huge in the last month. He averages four goals, 10 marks and 17 disposals a game in that period alone, including his massive eight-goal haul last weekend against the Bulldogs.

Herald Sun chief football writer and AFL 360 co-host Mark Robinson has even labelled him the ‘best player in the league at the moment’.

In the remaining games ahead it’s looking as though he will be relied quite heavily due to the injury sustained by fellow key-forward Joe Daniher that has put him out of action for at least the next three weeks. 

Carlisle himself has admitted he learnt a lot from his poor early season form and his been building since. If that’s the case then hopefully we’ll see the best of ‘Buckets’ come September.

Who goes out when Jobe returns?

He’s coming.

The skipper is progressing well in recovery from a ruptured rectus femoris tendon sustained against the GWS Giants back in round 12 and is expecting a late season return.

The fitness and conditioning staff will have Jobe cherry-ripe when he returns ready to slot back in the Bomber midfield, putting pressure on spots.

Brendan Goddard and Michael Hibberd both returned last week pushing the quality duo of Jake Melksham and Corey Dell’Olio out of the team, before Dell’Olio got a late reprieve due to the late injury of Joe Daniher.

After winning six of their last eight, including three in a row, there are going to be some unlucky Bomber players missing out on a game.

It’s a good problem for Bomber Thompson and his coaching staff to have, as the depth will be important if Essendon are to play finals.

Does Essendon have any All-Australian contenders?

Cale Hooker has been an obvious stand out candidate in the Bomber team this season for an All-Australian spot at season’s end.

Named in both The Age and Herald Sun’s mid-year All-Australian sides, Hooker has become the leagues most consistent defender and should be a strong chance to feature come Preliminary final week.

Dyson Heppell and Michael Hibberd could also be worthy inclusions in the All-Australian outfit.

Heppell has joined the AFL’s elite midfielders this season averaging a career best 27.8 disposals a match and ranks ninth in the league for total effective disposals.

While Hibberd is arguably the most damaging halfback flanker, he averages 24.3 disposals a game and is seventh in the competition for uncontested possessions per game.

If Hooker, Heppell or Hibberd are selected it would be the third year straight an Essendon player has been in the All-Australian team after Jobe Watson’s consecutive representations.

Even better if at least two of these three can to make their way into the team, it would be just the first time in eight years that more than one Essendon player has been All-Australian in the same year. The last two to achieve this feat were James Hird and Matthew Lloyd back in 2003.

Who finishes the Bombers leading goal-kicker?

Before last week, Joe Daniher led the count with 19 and looked headed for his first Essendon leading goal-kicker award in just his second season.

That all changed Sunday when Carlisle slammed home eight goals to overtake Daniher on the goal kicking tally to take his total to 22 goals for the season.

Daniher, who missed the match due to an injured shoulder is also expected to be sidelined for at least a further three weeks after undergoing surgery on Tuesday.

Small-forward Paul Chapman and goal-kicking midfielder Brent Stanton are next in line to challenge Carlisle for top goal kicking honours with 16 and 15 goals a piece next to their name.

While ruckman-forward Paddy Ryder (13 goals) and fellow forward Patrick Ambrose (10 goals) could also put pressure on ‘Buckets’ within the final weeks.

All be it a low tally, it makes for an interesting finish in the top goal kicker award at Bomber land.