Essendon’s tally of soft-tissue injuries during this AFL season is over 20 and the pressure continues to mount on new high performance manager Dean Robinson.

Midfielder Brent Stanton felt hamstring tightness during Friday’s 94-point loss to Hawthorn while Stewart Crameri was a late withdrawal from the selected side with the same complaint.

Coach James Hird expects key forwards Crameri and Michael Hurley (hamstring) to return for the round-19 clash in Adelaide against the Crows, while Stanton will be assessed during the week.

Critics, including club great Matthew Lloyd, are questioning Essendon’s training methods.

“They’ve wasted a season this year by getting something wrong with their program,” Lloyd told Radio 3AW.

Former Western Bulldogs and Richmond forward Nathan Brown said he could see no way to shield Robinson from the blame.

“The buck stops with the fitness coach. He designs it,” Brown told Triple M Radio.

“For so many soft-tissue injuries, they’re putting a brave face on it. (But) my word from inside the camp is the coach is seething.”