Essendon will beef up their forward line with big men Michael Hurley and Stewart Crameri set to return from injury for the Bombers’ AFL clash with Adelaide.
The Bombers struggled without their key targets up forward as they suffered a demoralising 27.18 (180) to 12.14 (86) loss to Hawthorn in their round-18 match at Etihad Stadium on Friday.
It was Essendon’s fifth defeat in eight matches. In the past two rounds the Bombers have lost to Geelong and Hawthorn by a combined margin of 161 points.
Essendon coach James Hird concedes fans and media pundits might be starting to wonder if the Bombers, who won eight of their first nine games, will even finish in the top eight.
The Bombers (11-6) face a challenging run home against Adelaide, North Melbourne, Carlton, Richmond and Collingwood.
“It’s a legitimate question. We need to win some games,” Hird said after his side’s loss to the Hawks, who kicked 14 goals to Essendon’s three in the first half.
“We’ve got a big game against Adelaide (on Sunday August 5 at AAMI Stadium).
“We need to go away and reasses where we’re at.”
Hurley kicked bags of six and five goals against Fremantle and Western Bulldogs in rounds 13 and 14 before breaking down the following week against St Kilda.
“Michael Hurley got through his running today and looks like he’ll come back in,” Hird said.
Hird said Crameri, a late withdrawal from the Hawthorn game with hamstring tightness, is also a likely starter.
“Tayte Pears is up for selection, Cale Hooker is up for selection and Sam Lonergan. There’s some experience there to come back in.”
Hawthorn had 73 inside-50 entries to Essendon’s 50 and as Hird pointed out: “As soon as it was going in it was coming out far too quickly.”
Hird said four-goal forward Scott Gumbleton had played a terrific game and speedster Jason Winderlich in his first match of the season was also a positive result.
Winderlich, third in Essendon’s best and fairest in 2010, suffering a season-ending knee injury in round four last year.
The 27-year-old had 12 touches and kicked one goal.
Essendon captain Jobe Watson, who boosted his Brownlow Medal hopes with a 37-possession performance, said Essendon’s work-rate wasn’t good enough against a side like the Hawks who are so precise with their kicking skills.