Melbourne’s mid-field ran riot last Sunday and the stand-out performer was Brad Green who collected 32 possessions on the wing. Lloyd said that to be competitive with the top-four sides, Essendon needs more from some of its mid-field players. ""I think it takes courage to run when you are fatigued. You just have to remember that they are as tired as you are. We have great players in James Hird and Jason Johnson who you admire in the way they run, but other sides might have five or six of them who can do that,"" Lloyd said.

""We have all trained hard over the summer but I think it takes two to three years of consistent pre-seasons that we have all had and then it is that mental aspect of being able to do it on match-days. We probably need a few more guys to run the lines like Hirdy and Jason do,"" Lloyd said.

The Essendon players conducted football clinics all day yesterday around the local area. They will do fitness testing on Wednesday morning before the senior group is given a five-day break. Lloyd hopes the break will be beneficial in resting the body and mind.

""When we come back next Monday, it is such a crucial game now against the Kangaroos. As a leader of the footy club firstly you have to do what counts out on the ground, which is the main thing. Then help the younger blokes and the other guys that aren’t going that well form wise because if we are to match it with the top teams we need everything going right for us.

""We have to win the next two games we play against the Kangaroos and Richmond and that will get us back around the mark. Even though we have been beaten convincingly the past two weeks, I still think we are not that far away if we have a few more players performing and we can play out a four quarter game.

""The last few weeks we have shown signs that we are thereabouts, but we are just not putting it together properly. If we don’t win the next two games, you can probably kiss the top-four good bye,"" Lloyd said.