Bomber coach Kevin Sheedy was naturally disappointed not to return from Brisbane with the four premiership points. However, the eternal optimist still took away a number of positives from the game including the form of youngsters David Hille, Damian Cupido and Jordan Bannister. “We played quite well except for our undisciplined play early. I thought we could have been two to three goals closer. We gave away two to three frivolous free kicks that cost us goals. I think we will learn from that. It was a bit of an anxiety issue that we wanted to get out there and do well after six months. Brisbane are a very good side and I think most sides are going to get beaten by somewhere between one to 12 goals up here. We got out of it half-way. Hopefully we might have got out of it by less but we didn't,” Sheedy said.

Q. You mentioned your undisciplined play do you think it had something to do with your players being too keen to take that aspect up to them - because Brisbane is such a physical team?
A. We spoke about really wanting to run with Brisbane because we thought that could possibly be an area where you can beat them. I think if we get our better side out there we would be more a chance. But saying that, I think we got some positives out of the match - Hille, Cupido and McPhee all did well and I thought Jordan Bannister came onto the ground and did something for us. I think if we get a couple of bigger and stronger players back in there like a Barnard, Henneman and Fletcher, then you can start to match Brisbane a bit more.

Q. Why didn't Barnard play?
A. He hurt his ankle a couple of weeks ago and I would rather not risk him.

Q. Do you think Damian Cupido received too much attention from the Brisbane players?
A. He is an ex-Brisbane player and if I played for Brisbane I would get in his face and do everything I could to annoy him. I think Cupido showed some good signs and is going to be a very good player for us. We need that exciting pace and that creativity. I thought for a guy that hasn't played a lot in the past two years he did very well.

Q. Was the problem early that your big name players couldn't get going. Matthew Lloyd and James Hird barely got a touch in the first quarter?
A. More than anything we probably needed a game. We weren't sure how we were going to go tonight after being eliminated from the Wizard Cup in the first round.

Q. Dean Rioli spent the second half on the bench - is there an injury problem?
A. No. I would rather him play at his best and then bring him off the ground. In the end, Bannister came on and did well so I didn't want to take him off. He ran and created targets all over the mid-field.

Q. So you were pleased with Rioli's first half?
A. Very pleased - he played very well.

Q. If Brisbane are the benchmark where does that leave Essendon?
A. Somewhere in the middle at the moment where most people have got us. Hopefully by the half-way mark we are somewhere in the ball park. Guys like Bannister, Cupido and Joel Reynolds can be good players for us. Early in the season I would rather find out than wonder later in the season when it is too late. It is a fine balance at selection sometimes. I think if we get through this year and build up a good list again after losing four quality players, who knows what will happen. If we can get better and we should, then we still have a good opportunity.

Q. Hird started forward - is that an indication of where you will play him this season?
A. Not necessarily. It just depends on the game and who you are playing.