Matthew Lloyd played close to 10 minutes of finals football last season before a heavy concussion ended his finals campaign. This year, Lloyd is fighting fit and can't wait to take on Port Adelaide in a rematch of the 2002 first Semi Final. ""Definitely the pressure will be on them, but we will be desperate to win. We feel we have got the team to go some where, we don't want to finish sixth - we want to finish in the top four. We have to play the perfect game if we want to beat Port Adelaide because they will have a big week,"" Lloyd said.

""The boys put up a great show last year with an undermanned side. It is going to be a great challenge, but everything is going well and there is no reason why we can't do it,"" the dual Coleman medallist said. Essendon will travel to Adelaide on Friday in preparation for the knock-out final and Lloyd said the team would take winning form and confidence into the game. ""It was great to go over there and win against Fremantle. It was a huge confidence boost and we need that considering we are heading off again next Saturday against Port Adelaide.""

Lloyd left the ground early in the third tem after he hurt his hip in a marking contest. The 25-year-old returned to the ground late in the quarter and the good news is he has only bruised the hip. ""I am a bit sore from Friday night but I will be fine by next Saturday night. We have a great break in between games, so I am really looking forward to it,"" Lloyd said. Lloyd finished with five goals for the match, which brings his total for the season to 92 goals. ""Once you say eight, you do start to think about things. You never know what might happen, but I am just looking forward to advancing further in the finals.""

Bomber skipper James Hird was integral to the team's 44-point victory. He finished with 28 disposals and two goals.Lloyd praised Hird for the leadership he showed and the way he went about things on Friday night. ""It wasn't just his football - it was his leadership and saying the right things at the right time. Just his will to the football - it was great to be part of,"" Lloyd said.

After playing the second half of the season at centre half back, Scott Lucas was moved to centre half forward on Friday night - in a move that proved very effective for the team. Lucas was the third highest possession gatherer with 23 disposals. ""It is great option to have with Scott being in form in both centre half forward and centre half back - probably the two most important positions on the ground. It is a credit to Scott what he has done this year and the form he has been able to produce,"" Lloyd said. ""Danny Jacobs is keen to go back - he feels that is his best position. With Jacobs, Wellman, Fletcher down back and you need two centre half forwards, so Bolts and Scotty were there for that and that worked well for us.""