Essendon coach John Worsfold says his side is focused on sticking to the processes it has in place to build towards a premiership, after the Bombers got their season back on track with a 41-point win over Carlton on Sunday.

Sunday's dominant win over the Blues leaves Essendon sitting 5-6 and within striking distance of the top eight entering the bye rounds.

Worsfold said with the first half of the season done and dusted, the club was focused on moving forward with the processes it has in place to achieve success.

"We're going to stick strong with what we're working on and what we're trying to achieve as a big picture, which is a premiership," Worsfold said.

"We have to be strong on sticking to the process we've put in place to try and get there, and that has been developing some younger players coming through and finding out what we've got in our squad.

"People will try and derail that and people will be frustrated at times and I understand that, but we will stay focused."

Worsfold admitted this was a mantra he needed to repeat internally, to make sure everyone at the club felt comfortable with the direction it was headed in.

"We have to make sure we are all on the same page with where we're going and how we're going to get there," he said. 

"It's letting the players know I'm not going to start to react to noises outside the footy club.

"We all wear the frustration and disappointment as much as anyone, but I know you don't win a premiership just by chopping and changing regularly around gameplans and bringing players in and out."

Worsfold was full of praise for young tagger Dylan Clarke, who restricted Carlton star Patrick Cripps to 11 disposals – his lowest total since 2017 – while collecting 23 disposals himself.

The Bombers coach said Clarke came in on the back of strong VFL form, which made the coaching staff confident he could play his role well.

"[Clarke's] role was specifically at stoppages to be tight on Cripps and just make it hard for him and affect his disposal if he can," Worsfold said.


Dylan Clarke came out on top in his duel with Carlton star Patrick Cripps. (Photo: AFL Media)

"Maybe the conditions helped a little bit but [Clarke] did everything we asked him to do and didn't get too bogged down on just chasing him.

"He still played his role for us offensively by getting out and covering other players as well."

Worsfold added that injured players Jake Stringer, Shiel and Orazio Fantasia should be fine to play after the bye.