The Bombers have lost three consecutive games since round eight, when they sat third on the ladder with five wins and a draw, but the club had identified its problems this week, said assistant coach, Brendan McCartney
"We're pretty confident we've nailed where we've been deficient the last few weeks," McCartney said on Friday.
"We're certainly hoping that our players will invest heavily in the tough part of the game, the difficult part of the game, and that's probably the thing that's been lacking a little bit, as well as remaining brave with the ball and still wanting to take the game on," he said.
McCartney said the Bombers had been instructed to "drive in" at the ball, get more players to contests and to create more contests. The players, he said, had taken the advice on board and were ready to respond on Saturday.
"Ultimately, the players decide that and drive that in a game. I think it's fair to say it's the one thing they all want to see from themselves, expect from themselves and demand from each other," McCartney.
McCartney said the Bombers' form slump could be put down to inconsistent quarters, which was "a sign of an improving team and one that still has some way to go before it reaches its full potential." Despite the drop in intensity, though, he said the club was "very confident" of moving through the period.
"We would like to win tomorrow, but we don't want a group of players who are too desperate to win and forget how to play," he said.
"We're internally very confident we'll work through this. It's certainly a part of our journey and an important experience for players in a lot of ways to come out the other side and know that their best footy will always be on the back of working as a team."
McCartney said Andrew Welsh and David Hille, both omitted on Thursday, had been victims of the club's six-day break from the Fremantle loss, and were "not quite" fit enough to take on the Kangaroos. He denied, though, that Hille's absence signalled the end of the Bombers playing three ruckmen.
"(Playing three) is dependant on the opposition, and also dependant on form and how the team is performing. There are times in games when you crave that, and there are times in games when you don't need it," he said.
"We'll work through it, and every club is. Ultimately, people play in the team when they play well and contribute and provide constant output."
Callum Twomey covers Essendon news for afl.com.au. Follow him on Twitter at: @Cal_Twomey.
