Essendon face West Coast on home soil this Sunday, in another important match for the club. The Eagles are undefeated at home this season and are a much improved side compared to the team Essendon defeated by 89-points at Subiaco in Round 21 last season. “It is a big game - it is crucial for us. We just have to get out there in a very, very positive frame of mind - we have played pretty well in the last month against good running sides, which has been good for us because we have always been a tall side,” Bomber coach Kevin Sheedy said.

Q. You said you have played well against running teams - do you regard West Coast as a running side?
A. You have to have a running side over there because it is a big ground. Players like Cousins have a great deal of power in their run. In general, the West Coast are playing very, very well this year and we have to make sure that we lift in our performance. We are fourth and we want to make sure we can stay there. Percentage isn't the issue with us anymore because of the draw, so it is performance from our point of view from now on.

Q. You have played at Subiaco already this year - how much tougher is it to win over there?
A. It is hard when you get four injured on the bench that day. In the end we didn't have much of a side out there but we hung in there. It was a great win by Fremantle, but we are a better side coming around this time. We have put some kids in and have a bit of hunger and you would have to say - Hird and Lloyd are pretty keen to get the ball. They virtually haven't really played since then except for two hours.

Q. Does the fact that Port Adelaide won at Subiaco at the moment, make your job any easier?
Q. Well Port Power is going to win everywhere at the moment. They have got everything going for them at the moment - they are playing well and confidently.