Essendon midfielder Brent Stanton says histeam must regain their attacking flair for the final game of the season againstCollingwood to gain important momentum heading into the off-season.

Despite the Bombers not being able to make thefinals, Stanton said their clash against Collingwood on Saturday night remainedan crucial encounter.

“We have one game to go against a fantasticside and we have to really put some pride on the line,” Stanton said.

“We have to show everyone involved withthis football club that we want to go somewhere.

“It is important we regain some confidencegoing forward heading into the pre-season.”

The Bombers midfielder said the team hadlost the attacking flair that saw them win eight of the first nine games of theseason.

“We have full belief in where we are going,unfortunately it hasn’t worked out in the last six weeks but we have to startplaying some exciting football again,” he said.

“We need to start playing some flairyfootball again, we have probably gone into our shells a bit and we have to getout of this ourselves.”

Stanton said it was exciting to see youngpair Nick O’Brien and Alex Browne put in strong performances in the laterstages of the season.