Essendon has spent the past week knowing it would play Carlton in its elimination final, but will only really ramp up its preparation for the game this week, according to coach James Hird.
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Hird said he and a group of players went to the MCG to see St Kilda defeat Carlton on Saturday night, and added his planning for the Blues would intensify this week.

""We went to the Carlton game, but I think you need to be very careful not to put too much planning into a two-week period and bury your players for too long,"" Hird said at Fox Sports on Monday.

""Two weeks is a long time to prepare yourself for a game and from a coaching point of view we've certainly had plenty of discussions about Carlton – we've played them twice already this year – and we'll put a lot more time into that this week than we did last week.""

 

Hird said he had not read much into the Blues' 20-point loss to the Saints, suggesting they too may have had one eye on Sunday's final.

""I don't think Carlton were at their best on Saturday night. They knew they had fifth spot there and they played a certain brand of football,"" Hird said.

""The Carlton team were preparing for a final rather than just definitely winning that game, and I think it's about the last 24 weeks than that game.""

Carlton's key trio Michael Jamison, Jarrad Waite and Matthew Kreuzer are all in doubt for the final – the first time the rivals have met in September since the 2000 preliminary final – but Hird said he would not concentrate on Carlton's line-up until later in the week.

""We won't really plan on who's playing or who's not playing until they pick their team on Thursday night, and then we'll see who we have to man up against,"" Hird said.

""By all reports, all those players could still play so we'll wait and see before we make too many assumptions on what they'll be doing.""

Hird confirmed defender Dustin Fletcher would return for the game after missing Essendon's round 23 win over Port Adelaide with hamstring soreness.

 

Midfielder Sam Lonergan could also come into the side after playing close to a full game in the VFL on Sunday with the Bendigo Bombers, as he continues to make a speedy recovery from a medial ligament injury suffered mid-season.
 
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Ticket information is as follows:

Club Members Priority Booking Period
Monday 5 September - 9am to 9pm EST

MCC Members
Monday 5 September - 12noon EST

AFL Members
Tuesday 6 September - 9am EST

General Public
Tuesday 6 September - 12noon EST

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