Essendon senior coach Ben Rutten spoke to the media via video link on Friday ahead of the Bombers' round 22 clash with Gold Coast at GMHBA Stadium on Sunday.

Here are the five key takeaways from his media conference.

1. Finals not the main motivation

With two weeks to go and six teams in the hunt to secure seventh or eighth position in the finals, Essendon is a real chance to claim September action.

Sitting one win behind West Coast (seventh) and two points behind GWS (eighth), the Bombers could feature in September if they win their final two fixtures against Gold Coast and Collingwood and other favourable results fall their way.

A talking point in today’s presser was whether Rutten had dangled the finals carrot in front of his group.

Yet in consistent fashion this season, Rutten said the biggest driving factor for his charges was the motivation to improve, grow and become a consistent side.

“I don’t think we need to use it (finals) as motivation,” Rutten said.

“I think the guys are really driven and really clear on the style of footy we’re trying to play and what’s required in that.

“All of our attention is at training, the time we spend here at the club and how we do that on match day.

“We’re never going to play the perfect game, we understand that, but that level of consistency of improving and getting better throughout the course of the season (is our focus).”

2. Wright ready to face old side

Sunday’s game against the Suns will be the first time that key forward and 2021 recruit Peter Wright will face his former side.

After 66 games with Gold Coast, Wright has established himself as a key presence in the Dons’ forward line, adding a career-high seven goals against the Bulldogs to take his tally to 25 in his first season with the club.

As the 203cm tall prepares to face his old team, Rutten believes Wright will be looking forward to taking on a team he spent so much time at.

“It’s always a little bit different (playing your old side),” he said.

“I’m sure there’ll be a little bit more in it, a little bit more nerves. But once the ball’s bounced and once he gets a couple of knocks, it will be much like another game.

“He’ll do that in his own way and I’m sure he’s looking forward to it as well.” 

3. Selected stars put through their paces

The Bombers could be buoyed by having two leadership group stars included in their side to face the Suns.

Captain Dyson Heppell and joint vice-captain Andrew McGrath have been selected in the Dons’ extended squad after recovering from respective thumb and knee injuries.

Rutten said both players would have to prove their fitness in today’s main session to be included in Sunday’s final team.

“Him (McGrath) and Dyson Heppell will train, and we’ll make a call on what that looks like,” he said.

“Dyson’s probably more likely to be a definite starter. Andy McGrath, he’s building up really well and he’s looking really good.

“We want to give him every opportunity to put his hand up to play given we understand what sort of player Andy is, and the influence he has more broadly around our group is really important.

“He’s going to add a lot to us when he comes back and plays, whether it’d be this week or moving forward.”

4. Walla’s reset

Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti’s run of 115 consecutive games has come to an end after the small forward was rested for round 22’s clash.

Rutten backed up general manager of football Josh Mahoney’s comments around McDonald-Tipungwuti needing a reset after some off-field struggles, saying the 28-year-old had the full support of the club.

“For 'Walla', he’s had a couple of things off the field which he’s managing through, and we want to make sure that he’s in the best frame of mind and physical condition to perform at his best,” Rutten said.

“It’s an opportunity we’ve got to have a bit of a reset for Walla and support him in the best possible way as a footy club.”

5. Geelong prep no distraction

Essendon will head down the highway to GMHBA Stadium for the second time this season on Sunday. 

After only finding out about round 22’s venue on Thursday, an air of uncertainty surrounded whether the Dons’ game would feature in Queensland or remain in Victoria.

Rutten said the unusual preparation hasn’t hindered the Bombers, who have been unabated by the unpredictability of 2021.

“We learnt that (round 22 venue) yesterday, but we were half preparing to be at the Gold Coast and half preparing to be in Melbourne somewhere,” he said.

“It hasn’t been a major distraction for us as a footy program. That’s been one of the really pleasing things throughout the course of the season is our group’s ability to handle that uncertainty and let other people work on that and focus on our preparation to perform.”