The failure of the team to turn up ready to play after a week off was the most disappointing part of Saturday night's loss according to midfielder Brent Stanton.
""We apologise to all the fans and we will come out this weekend and put up a good performance,"" Stanton said to media today.
""We just didn't come to play in the first quarter and that really set Adelaide up to play some good footy and we now have eight weeks to rectify that.""
Stanton backed the coaching group saying it is the players that have to deliver on the field.
He admitted he felt the playing group has lost some respect through its recent performances.
""There is always a sense that you might lose a little bit of respect when you're sitting 12th on the ladder, no-one wants to be there but we just have to keep fighting tooth and nail to get that next win,"" he said.
""I think there is always a point to prove when you have so many fans as Essendon does .. we want to live up to expectations and be a successful club, we don't want to be known as a team that just goes through the motions and we look to fight on.
""It's disappointing (the result) and the group came together and we reviewed the game and we pretty much just didn't play to the structures that we played to for the first 13 rounds.""
Despite a poor record on the road, Stanton backed the club's support staff saying Essendon has a number of people with good experience with successful travelling teams.
""We just have to mature as a side and build a group that can take us forward,"" he said.
""We are trying to find the answers so we can become a more consistent football side, all the good sides are performing consistently week in, week out.""
