JUBILANT Essendon coach John Worsfold has refused to take credit for swinging his side around when in trouble during the opening half of its thrilling victory over Adelaide on Friday night.

The Bombers looked to be headed to another interstate loss when they trailed the Crows by five goals late in the second quarter, but a pair of telling moves from the coaches' box allowed Worsfold's charges to work their way slowly back into the game.

Versatile big man Cale Hooker - who was badly beaten by Crows veteran Josh Jenkins early on - was swung into attack and Michael Hartley was moved into defence just prior to the half-time break, with the switch helping spark Essendon into action.

But Worsfold said the decision to move his players around was pre-planned and only needed to be implemented due to the fact his side was being so badly beaten.

"We had pre-planned that if it's not the way we wanted it to look, we know Hartley would go straight back and potentially Hooker (would go) forward," Worsfold said following the 21-point triumph.

BOMBERS STUN THE CROWS Full match coverage and stats

"Those were things we had discussed pre-game and it was just a matter of when we felt the time was right or when it was needed to change that."

Worsfold said there was potential for him to use Hooker in attack on a weekly basis, but any decision to do so would be dependent on injuries and team balance.

"It could easily be a permanent thing if we wanted it to," Worsfold said.

"He played as a key forward a couple of years ago and kicked 40-odd goals.

"The challenge is if we take him out of the backline it potentially leaves a bit of a hole there...so we have got some options to consider as we keep going forward."

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The Bombers appear likely to regain a trio of key players for next week's clash against the Suns on the Gold Coast, with Worsfold revealing dynamic goalkicker Orazio Fantasia, experienced ruckman Zac Clarke and emerging forward Jayden Laverde are all in line to return from injury.

Whether key midfielder Dyson Heppell makes the trip remains to be seen, with the inspirational skipper to have his ongoing foot complaint closely monitored for the remainder of the season.

WATCH John Worsfold's full post-match media conference

"We don't know how he will pull up until probably Monday," Worsfold said of Heppell.

"I have got no doubt his foot will be sore tonight. He might be feeling pretty good by Monday, or he might not be.

"We will use the measures that we can to assess him day to day and week to week.

"He may be right for the rest of the year, he might need a spell somewhere. It is not one you can predict."

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