Essendon will be keen to string consecutive victories together after an impressive win against Port Adelaide last week. Sheedy said the win was the team’s best for the season and hopes it is the catalyst to building momentum into the finals’ series. ""We got a win last week that was desperately needed by our club and we are going out to face Carlton this week. We are two pretty big clubs who have been at each other for a long time,"" Sheedy said.
Carlton was disappointing against Fremantle last Saturday at Optus Oval and will be keen to redeem themselves. Pagan said that despite the fact his team can’t make the finals this year they are determined to finish the season on a high note. Carlton has a history of turning on strong performances against its archrival. The 1999 preliminary final is still fresh in most Essendon supporter’s mind.
When the teams met earlier this season, Essendon won comfortably by 37-points. It will be a different story on Saturday however. Carlton is much improved since Round 4 and Sheedy said it is difficult to get a gauge on their form. ""One week they (Carlton) play poorly and the next week they play fantastically well,"" he said.
""We have to make sure our players are really alert. We have not made the finals series yet and we have to! We can’t afford to lose to a side that won’t be playing in the finals’ series.""
Pagan made no secret of the fact that the game will be tough. ""It is going to be an enormous challenge against the Bombers this week. I watched them last Saturday night and I thought they were absolutely sensational and we are going to have to be at our very best to be more than competitive.""
Essendon will be strengthened with the return of James Hird and Scott Lucas. Sheedy was confident that Hird would play last week, however was a late withdrawal after the medical staff ruled him out. ""I really felt he (Hird) should have played last week. The doctors felt that he shouldn’t. If he is not out there this week I would be very disappointed. Three weeks is long enough.""
