ESSENDON looks set to regain important forward Orazio Fantasia for next week's clash with Hawthorn as coach John Worsfold searches for an answer to the Bombers' costly lapses during games.
The Bombers led Melbourne by six points at half-time of Sunday's clash before conceding seven goals to one in the third quarter in their 36-point loss at Etihad Stadium.
Worsfold said the Bombers' four-day break between their Anzac Day clash with Collingwood was no factor in their fadeaway after a promising start that saw them get 16 points ahead midway through the second term.
"The third quarter, for whatever reason, was riddled with errors and we didn't match the intensity that Melbourne came out with," he said.
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"We were asking that question in the box: What's changed, why is it like that? That's something we have to explore about why that was the case.
"Because the start of the game our pressure was good. We didn't play the perfect game in the first half, but it was on.
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"But the third quarter we turned the ball over, dropped marks, fumbling … everything was well below what we'd shown earlier in the game."
The Bombers have lost four of five games since their round one win over Adelaide, and Worsfold admits his side is a fair way off playing its best football. He said it looked like "a rabbit in the headlights" as the Dees ran rampant after half-time.
After returning to the finals last year, the club set expectations to improve on their elimination final exit but faces a big month in the context of its season, including clashes with the Hawks, Carlton, Geelong and Greater Western Sydney (away).
"We're building a team that is aiming to become a really good team. We're not playing our best footy right now," he said.
"We've blooded a few young kids the past few weeks which is awesome, but overall we've got too many players not performing at their best and we're not performing as a tight unit at our best.
"That's what we're searching for."
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One of those players is clearly Joe Daniher, who last year claimed the Bombers' best and fairest and kicked 65 goals on his way to his first All Australian jumper.
He was held goalless against Melbourne and has kicked just seven majors in six games so far this season, but Worsfold remains optimistic things will turn for the star forward.
"I can't make him work any harder because he's working hard already. He's not the only player ever to be not playing their best footy at any period in the game, and he'll be playing good footy for us fairly soon. I'd be confident on that," he said.
Fantasia has missed the past two games with a groin injury but Worsfold said he should be available next week for Saturday afternoon's meeting with Hawthorn, while half-back Conor McKenna will be up for selection after serving his three-game suspension.
