This Saturday afternoon’s do-or-die blockbuster against the Hawks is Essendon’s most important match in the last five years, according to Mark McVeigh.
McVeigh says the team is focused on producing finals-like football in what he expects will be a high intensity clash which will ultimately determine the Bombers’ finals fate.
“You are playing for a spot in the finals so why wouldn’t there be fireworks,” McVeigh said.
“Hawthorn and Essendon have got a great rivalry and over the years we have had some great battles between the two sides. But at the end of the day it is all about the football really. You don’t want to go out there and do anything stupid because you may be in a finals series the week after.
“In terms of hardness at the football and a contest, it will be very tough and rugged and that’s the way it should be because that is finals football and that is what our team needs.”
Essendon players were today rueing the fact they could have sealed their finals hopes with a win over Fremantle yesterday but McVeigh says the playing group will take key learnings from the game and are now focusing their efforts on defeating Hawthorn.
“It was a very long, quiet and disappointing flight back from Perth last night and it is one of those things where you know a chance has gone begging,” he said.
“In saying that, we are still in the hunt and we can’t dwell on it too much. We will obviously assess where we went wrong but by this afternoon we will be looking forward to this weekend’s game.
“Our confidence levels are still pretty good. We came in today and everyone is laughing – obviously not about losing but bantering with the younger guys.
“Hawthorn this week is a huge challenge but if we win the game, we play finals and you quickly forget about losing to Fremantle.”
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McVeigh said the injection of some key name players could be the boost the Bombers need ahead of Saturday’s clash.
“You want your best players out on the park and over the last couple of weeks we haven’t been able to do that,"" he said.
“I was talking to Patrick Ryder earlier today and he said he was going to have a good crack at getting up for this week.
“I think Lloydy is pretty close this week. He reckons he will train all week and is pretty confident he will play on the weekend. It would be nice to get the captain back.
“Kyle Reimers is another who could come up. That being said, on Monday’s we generally review our injuries and have scans and by Tuesday you have a better idea as to who will be available.”
