ESSENDON coach Mark Thompson has backed Joe Daniher and Jake Carlisle to have a bright future as the Bombers' key forward combination after the pair's promising showing against Gold Coast on Monday night.
Carlisle kicked three goals and Daniher two as the newly-formed Bombers forward line functioned strongly in the one-point loss to the Suns.
Thompson said he would play Carlisle and Daniher together as much as possible during the remainder of the pre-season as they searched for chemistry.
Carlisle has been permanently stationed in the forward half after switching ends of the ground with fellow tall Michael Hurley – who was also excellent opposed to Tom Lynch on Monday night.
Thompson backed Carlisle and Daniher's partnership to mature during the premiership season.
"I think for six weeks they've been working together and we'll continue that … we can't play them enough together," Thompson said.
"I think they're going to have a good chemistry in the end. They're both nearly 200cm. They're going to be hard to stop if they both stay fit and work together and get some experience under their belt playing together."
Daniher was particularly impressive during the first half before running out of legs in the humid conditions.
The 19-year-old was strong both in the air and on the ground and had the better of Suns defenders Steven May and Matthew Warnock.
The pair showed plenty of the chemistry Thompson was talking about when combining for a soccer-style goal during the first quarter.
Daniher centred the ball to the top of the goal square with a deft left-foot banana kick along the ground, where it was met by Carlisle who swept it home for a goal.
Thompson said it was hard to put expectations on the lanky second-year forward who has just five senior games to his name.
"We like to expect a lot and [for him to] play every game and kick 100 goals, that'd be great, but it's probably not going to happen," he said.
"We'll try and manage him and give him as much game time and as many games and as much time with the rest of the forwards as we can."
Thompson said 43-disposal midfielder David Zaharakis was "outstanding" and also praised youngsters Zach Merrett, Martin Gleeson, Jason Ashby and Fraser Thurlow.
The positive mood in the Essendon camp was dampened somewhat by Alex Browne's knee injury, which will be assessed later in the week.
Thompson said it could either be a medial injury or, in the worst case scenario, an anterior cruciate ligament rupture.
While disappointed to lose, the Essendon coach's focus was on his side's overall progress rather than the result.
"We look at positives and room for improvement, that's what these games are for," Thompson said.
"(I'm) unhappy to lose the game and unhappy we broke down when we had a lead. Obviously we want to win all games, but it is a practice match and we'd expect to get better."
