ESSENDON will persist with its misfiring forward line, despite key position pair Joe Daniher and Jake Carlisle combining for a single goal in the Bombers’ 23-point Anzac Day loss to Collingwood.
The Bombers (2-4) have now lost their last three games, and are struggling to find an avenue to goal.
Essendon kicked eight goals in the loss to the Pies on Friday and did not have a multiple goal scorer, while the Bombers managed just nine goals in defeats to Fremantle and St Kilda.
This time last season, Carlisle was a defender in All-Australian form. Under coach Mark Thompson, he finds himself playing in attack, with Cale Hooker, Michael Hurley and Dustin Fletcher holding down the backline.
Carlisle has struggled to come to terms with his new role, kicking just three goals so far in 2014. Thompson declared during the week that Carlisle was "in danger" of being dropped to the VFL.
His partner up forward, Daniher, is still a raw talent in just his second AFL season, and has kicked five goals this year.
Despite their lowly output, Thompson insisted after Friday’s loss that he would be sticking with the current structure.
"I know Jakey and I back my ability to preserve with [the forward set-up]," Thompson said.
"He was better today than he was last week. When you're in the forward line and your team is playing well and you're getting good delivery and you're operating in even numbers, you can play well then and we score goals.
"It's when the team rush the ball in and they've set up the ground better than what we have, or we get poor kicks or pressure on the kick and it's up high and 50-50 – then it's hard to play in the forward line.
Carlisle was held scoreless by Collingwood defender Lachie Keeffe, and could only manage four marks in the loss, only one of which was inside 50.
Daniher had eight marks but like Carlisle, only one was inside the Bombers' forward arc.
Despite serving him a public bake during the week, Thompson said he was pleased with Carlisle's much-improved attitude against Collingwood.
"When you lose, everyone just puts pressure on the forward line," Thompson said.
"We're here to coach. Jakey's got the ability and the characteristics to be a forward and he can play there. If he wants to play, this year anyway, he's going to play there.
"Joe's good. He's fine. If you think about his output, he'd played five games before the start of this season and has played all games this year, (so) that's 11 games.
"We've been happy with his output too even if it's probably not as good as what everyone expects because he's not kicking goals and taking marks. But as a football club, we actually take the reverse philosophy. We actually try to help them, guide them and nurture them through."
The Bombers have had a tough three weeks, with the club hit with a virus in the week leading into their Fremantle loss in the sweltering Perth heat.
The club then had two six-day breaks to round out a tough section of the draw which Thompson said had not allowed the team to train much at all.
He said the lack of training and match simulation in a controlled environment had hampered his ability to work on the forward line's unity.
Essendon is hopeful of regaining key trio Brendon Goddard, David Myers and Tom Bellchambers for next Saturday night's clash against the Western Bulldogs.
Thompson said the return of ruckman/forward Bellchambers will bring some much-needed experience into attack.
"I think it will help with Carlisle and with Joe Daniher," he said.
"We won't become too tall, but we'll become more experienced. Bellchambers has marked the ball, kicked goals before, done ruck work, so he just might be able to help rotate some of the other younger players."
