The 60-point win against Fremantle was the Bombers' sixth successive victory and now means the team is still a chance to finish in the top four. The match against the Dockers was close up until the 20-minute mark of the third quarter, when Essendon piled on four late goals to head into the final change with a 31-point lead. ""It was a fairly even first half and Fremantle had come along way from what we had played them in the past in Melbourne. I just felt we needed a goal in the third quarter and once Danny Jacobs kicked that goal I felt that our confidence rose and we went on from there and won the match quite comfortably in the end,"" Lloyd said.
Essendon had a number of outstanding players that were integral to Saturday's victory and Lloyd said one player that stood out was Jason Johnson. Johnson missed the previous game against Richmond with an ankle injury and was a welcome inclusion into the team that played Fremantle. ""It was fantastic game by him. When you can get your midfielders contributing on the scoreboard like that it really does help the team. Jason is the type of guy who never struggles for form for too long because he attacks the ball so well,"" Lloyd said.
Another player that continues to impress each week is rookie Ben Haynes. After being promoted from the rookie list three weeks ago, the 22-year-old is becoming a regular senior player. He finished with 17 touches against Fremantle and contributed to six goals in the first half. ""There are not many guys who can find the ball like a Joe Misiti and Ben Haynes is one guy that just knows where to go to find the footy and how he didn't go on at Richmond I am not too sure. He dominated the reserves since coming back from his shoulder and we have always known that once he was fit he would come onto the list and do a job for us.""
Bomber coach Kevin Sheedy commented after Saturday's game that the team still has a lot of improvement left in them. Lloyd agreed with this comment and said the side will be further strengthened with the return of defenders Sean Wellman and Dustin Fletcher and believes the team is playing good football at the right time of the year. ""I think players are coming into form at the right time of the year and we are one club heading in the right direction at the right time of the season more so than any other club. I think the form of a Haynes, Bullen, McVeigh, Lucas and Hirdy - there are so many guys that are probably in the best form they have ever been in. We have no excuses now and we are going as well as we have gone all year, which is great at Round 21.""
