Matthew Knights says this weekend’s Round 3 blockbuster against Carlton shapes up as a season-defining match for the Bombers with the club still on the hunt for their first win of the year.
“In both games thus far this season, we have played some decent football in the first half without probably capitalising on our opportunities like we should have.
Knights said the Bombers have to make more of their opportunities this week and play more accountable football across the board if they are to have any chance of securing the four points.
“We have had a discussion as a group and we understand what we didn’t achieve on the weekend against Fremantle and we understand where we let ourselves down. Now it is up to us to respond and to come out accordingly and apply those principles a bit better against Carlton,” Knights said.
Nathan Lovett-Murray will come into the side to play Carlton on Saturday night after serving a two-week suspension for rough contact in the club’s elimination final against Adelaide last year.
“Nathan is available. He has served his suspension so I would say that Nathan would definitely come into the 22 but we will make any other decisions on changes on Thursday,” Knights said.
Knights dismissed any speculation that the Bombers’ recent record against Carlton will give the playing group any added confidence this week saying the Blues also have a point to prove.
“I think we will be looking to continue our good stretch and obviously Carlton will be looking to eradicate the issues that they have had playing us so both teams are going to be fairly full-on and fairly wound up to win this contest,” Knight said.
