Gumbleton, whose pre-season was interrupted by a nagging hamstring injury, put in a commanding performance in the Bombers' VFL side's thumping win over Bendigo Gold in a practice match on Friday.
To go with his goals, the 24-year-old also booted a number of behinds, but marked strongly and moved well around the ground in the final chance to impress before the Crows outing next Friday night at AAMI Stadium.
"He took at least seven or eight contested marks, and he looked really dangerous up forward," Essendon VFL coach Hayden Skipworth told AFL.com.au.
"The other forwards pretty did well to isolate him at times and he certainly looked threatening throughout the game."
Gumbleton played in the VFL last week as well, but ran out a full game on Friday.
Skipworth said he was fit to play at the top level, but it was now a decision for the Essendon match committee.
"As far as the physical preparation he's probably ready, but whether the coaches want to give him another few [games], that's their call," Skipworth said.
"Physically, he'd be up for consideration."
Gumbleton's effort overshadowed the return of midfielder David Zaharakis, who played his first game this pre-season after a quad strain ruled him out of the NAB Cup.
Zaharakis played three quarters and sat out the last term, but he was able to move at full capacity and kicked a goal in the first half.
"He got through fine. His touch was good, he didn't look out of place at all or restricted with his quad. He's certainly put his name up for contention you'd imagine for round one selection," Skipworth said.
"He said he felt fine. It didn't take him long to get into the game."
More than 20 Essendon players were given AFL permission to play in the contest as a final tune-up for the home and away season, and Skipworth said there were a number of standouts.
Jake Melksham, David Hille, Tayte Pears and Kyle Hardingham were others, but highly rated draftee Joe Daniher didn't play, with Skipworth saying he had missed with a corkie last week.
"He was close [to playing] but he just didn't come up in time," he said.
Follow AFL website reporter Callum Twomey on Twitter at @AFL_CalTwomey.
