Essendon great Matthew Lloyd says with the right Coach, the side can challenge for a top eight spot next season.

The Bombers will be aiming to win their sixth game of the season on Sunday against Collingwood. 

The Club has begun the process of finding its next Senior Coach and Lloyd said with the right appointment, the side can feature in the top eight in 2016.

“I think it can happen pretty quickly, I think Essendon is in a position where I don’t think the list is that bad,” he said. 

“If a coach comes in, gets them organised, gets them all on the same page I think the Bombers can challenge for a top eight spot next year. 

“Essendon should be a real threat within two or three years I would have thought.” 

Lloyd said coaches no longer need to spend one season focusing on defence and the next zeroing in on the attack. 

“In previous times you’ve heard coaches talk about ‘I’m just going to get the defence right then I’m going to worry about the attack’,” he said. 

‘I’ve probably learnt over the last 12 months that they go hand in hand.

“You don’t just teach one.

“If you get your defence right, that leads to attack.  If you get your attack right, that obviously helps you defend because the ball is in your forward half.”

Three sides (West Coast, Western Bulldogs and Adelaide) will play in the finals this year after missing the top eight last season.