With a fit and firing squad, Essendon VFL are set for a first preliminary final appearance in eight years when they take on Box Hill this Saturday.

Backline coach Gary Rohan has attested the late-season resurgence of eight wins on the run to an exciting brand of footy across all lines and a reiterated focus on team defence.

The side has linked and galvanised over a stretch of eight consecutive wins, including last week’s gritty interstate display in front of a hostile Tasmanian crowd.

“The team feels really united, the boys want to play their role for the team, and by doing that you get success," Rohan said.

The importance of the VFL program and its listed players aren't lost on Rohan and the Bombers' coaching staff, commending their contribution to training standards and camaraderie regardless of a stacked selection table in September.

“Our listed VFL players have been strong all year and without them we wouldn’t be where we are now. It becomes tough for them during finals when the AFL boys become available, but they’ve embraced it, they know that these things happen being a part of an aligned program," Rohan said.

"VFL is massive for our AFL-listed players to be getting the experience playing finals, and just playing more games together in the VFL is going to help them in the long run and into next year.”

While the VFL side has flourished as a collective, some individual efforts in recent weeks have particularly stood out to Rohan.

“First that comes to mind is 'Nguey' (Jayden Nguyen), he’s worked a lot on his goalkicking, his craft, breaking lines and having a shot, those kind of things and now we’re seeing it on gameday. I’m proud of the way he’s kept at it, built his craft and now he’s getting the reward," Rohan said.

“Tyler Sellers down back, we know he can intercept mark but working on blocking for others, spoiling the ball, getting in good positions, he’s taken his game to the next level as well.

“For someone who'd never played the game (Cillian Bourke), he’s surprised me a lot. His kicking has improved, he knows the game a lot better now for someone that had never touched a footy before coming down for pre-season.

"His development is outstanding, he works hard during the week on his craft and he’s now our number one shut-down defender. He is someone that Dons fans should be very, very excited about.”

Reflection at the halfway point of the campaign addressed deficiencies and initiated adjustments to the side’s defensive strategy.

Roles were made clearer and constructive conversations were had around the group, most notably after a devastating late defeat to the Roos at Arden Street which threatened their finals hopes.

“Oppositions were kicking goals too easily on us, so we had to work really hard on team defence. When it’s turned over, what are the forwards doing that’s helping the mids and helping the defenders," Rohan said.

"The biggest thing is the 'want'. They want to defend, they want to get the ball back. We’ve worked hard the second half of the year and we’ve proved a lot with that but also scoring as well.”

Rohan has worked closely with mid-year recruit Deacon Kalpakis and observed the growth of his connection with fellow key defender Tyler Sellers. A blooming friendship off the field sees a solid partnership within the back six that gives fans and teammates faith when the ball is in flight towards either set of their trusty hands.

“'The bash brothers', I’ve named them," Rohan said.

"Deacon has fit in really well here, for a young person he’s really strong in his leadership, with his voice out there and he’s someone that’s able to just play his role.

"We were very lucky to have him come in mid-year, he’s a good key defender and they’re hard to find. He works well with Tyler - Deacon can hold down and allow Tyler to intercept and vice-versa. They’ve worked really well together and the boys love him having out there.”

Rohan is confident Dons fans attending Box Hill City Oval at 11:05am AEST on Saturday morning can expect the same exciting brand of footy and tenacity shown in the past few months.

“Our forwards are very dangerous, our small forwards are putting on elite pressure that gives our defenders time to get in the right spots and to intercept," Rohan said.

We’ll take it to the Hawks as much as we can. We feel like we’re strong all over the field now, we’re not just relying on one line to get the job done.”