A defiant John Worsfold says the Bombers remain committed to their plan, despite falling to another defeat on Saturday night.

Essendon's finals hopes were dealt a blow in its Dreamtime in Darwin defeat to Richmond, with the Bombers managing only one win from their past seven games. 

They sit 12th on the ladder and look set to miss the top-eight after bowing out in last year's elimination final, but coach John Worsfold said critics of the side's development were off the mark.

"I've read some comments from people that are pretty well respected people in the footy industry and they sound like six-year-old kids," he said.

"It's a bit embarrassing to read what some people say, but it's a passionate game. I get that and they write stuff. But we're going to stick the course and we're going to be a very good team very quickly.

"I know people want quickly to be next week, but that’s not the way it works in the AFL." 

Worsfold was also strong on the impact of a free kick given away from Jake Stringer that cost Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti a goal in the second term. The goal would have put the Bombers 11 points ahead. 

The outgoing Bombers coach said it came at a crucial time.

"[It had a] massive impact. At that point that was potentially going to give us a two-goal lead and maybe a three-goal lead, I'm not really sure. It was obviously something pretty drastic to overturn a kick like that," Worsfold said.

"Unfortunately that's the way the umpires called it and we have to cop that but it was a pretty critical part of the game."