ESSENDON coach John Worsfold has conceded his side's forward mix isn't working, with the Bombers dropping their third consecutive game in the loss to Sydney at the SCG on Friday night.

With spearhead Joe Daniher rested for the clash against the Swans following a five-day break from the loss to the Cats, the Bombers lacked potency going inside forward 50.

Orazio Fantasia booted four goals to be easily the Bombers' most dangerous forward, but he had little help with Worsfold lamenting his side's inability to generate scoring opportunities in the five-point loss.

SWANS ALIVE, BOMBERS DIVE Full match coverage and stats

"I'm disappointed, really disappointed," Worsfold said after the match.

"We're all aware that we've had to shuffle our forward line around a fair bit over the last couple of weeks and the guys are working pretty hard up there,"

"But it's not our best-balanced look at the moment."

Injuries to Mitch Brown (wrist), James Stewart (Groin) and Jayden Laverde (hamstring) have meant the pool of forwards to pick from has been shallow.

The Bombers moved Cale Hooker forward in the last quarter, but the quality of their entries proved costly as the defender constantly found himself having to defend from the back of the contest.

Essendon generated 54 inside 50s to Sydney's 41, although it scored five fewer points.

"We generated plenty of opportunities in terms of inside 50s and gave ourselves every chance, but too little too late really," Worsfold said.

"It was the story of the night, really. Trying to go inside 50 and score and not grabbing those opportunities."

Bomber David Myers had the opportunity to claim an unlikely victory after the final siren, although his set-shot from 65m out fell well short of the line.

"I gave him one per cent (chance). He was a long way out and it was pretty blustery out there, so it was going to be a miracle kick."

The Bombers did not help themselves with their discipline, with Jake Stringer and then Devon Smith gifting Swan Colin O'Riordan a goal following a 100m penalty from defensive 50.

WATCH John Worsfold's full post-match media conference 

Stringer failed to hand the footy back to O'Riordan, before Smith impeded the Irishman’s run from a 50m penalty and failed to clear the protected zone quick enough.

"They should know better.

"The original 50 was the rule in the game and the next 50 was a reaction to that and the players know that's going to be another 50, so you can say that they lose concentration for a second but they've got to be better.

"They're AFL footballers, they've got to understand that."

Worsfold does not expect Michael Hurley's left ankle injury to be anything major, despite the defender receiving medical attention in the final term.

"He's rolled his ankle, but only to the level where it was sore but still able to bear weight and play. You never really know how they pull up from it, but we'll be confident that he'll be OK," Worsfold said.

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