ESSENDON coach James Hird has a few theories about why the Bombers have fallen away so badly in the second half of the season, but for now, they are not for public consumption.

Following the 96-point thrashing from Carlton on Saturday, which sent the one time top-four aspirants tumbling from the eight and not looking likely to get back in, Hird said he needed more time to examine what is ailing his side, which has now lost five straight matches.

"Give me a few days to dissect it," Hird said at his post-match media conference.

He was more certain and more willing to discuss what he termed a "hugely-disappointing loss" to the Blues and the reasons why.

"We certainly couldn't keep up with them on the spread, they beat us heavily in contested footy, we didn’t use the ball as well as they did and we didn't get enough forward 50 entries," he said.

"That's four things that tie in but when you don't get the ball going your way and can't spread as well as the other team, it’s a pretty hard day."

Hird was plainly hurting. He might be coach of the Bombers, but he is also a fan. He said the supporter in him was angry at the state of affairs, while the coach in him would try to resolve why it has all gone so pear-shaped.

"I don’t feel demoralised or low. I feel for our supporters. They’ve been fantastic the way they have supported us since I've been back at the club.

"That was unacceptable from their point of view and they have every right to be pretty angry about the way we have played and the way we have performed over the last five or six weeks.

"It is my job to find out why and to get it back, but as supporters of Essendon, they have every right to feel angry about the way we're playing," he said.

Doubtless, those supporters will be pondering why the finals are now more unlikely than likely for Essendon. The mantra inside the club, however, has been one of striving for improvement and will remain that way for now.

"I suppose a lot of people look at the ladder, but I have been about getting better and improving as a team. Today we didn't play well enough."

"Finals are one thing and the ladder is one thing but improvement is what we are striving for.

"We had improved early in the year, but in the last five weeks some habits have come into our game that we have to change."

The Bombers looked alright for the first 20 minutes on Saturday before falling away and according to Hird, the goal on Friday night against Richmond at the MCG will be to show considerably more resolve and for considerably longer.

"How our team responds to a disappointing day is what's important to me ands that's the what I'll be looking forward to next week against Richmond. Its how we turn up and how we fight because after about the first 20 minutes we didn't turn up for the fight. That's the most important part of footy."

The Bombers will take on Richmond almost certainly without key defenders Dustin Fletcher and Jake Carlisle. Fletcher tweaked a groin muscle and at age 37, is unlikely to be able to recover in six days.

Carlisle landed heavily on his ankle in a marking contest in the third term and was taken to hospital after the match for scans.

You can follow AFL Media senior writer Ashley Browne on twitter @afl_hashbrowne