ESSENDON coach Matthew Knights says half a game of “very average football” at Subiaco Oval on Sunday effectively put an end to the Bombers’ finals hopes for 2008.

The visitors allowed West Coast to get the jump on them and trailed by 38 points at half time before kicking 12 goals to seven in the second half to get within 10 points at the final siren.

The narrow loss leaves the Bombers two wins out of the eight with just three games remaining.

Knights said his side had let themselves down with a poor first half which had cost them an opportunity to stay in the finals hunt.

“I spoke to the players (after the game) about maturity and being able to take opportunities when they arise,” Knights said.

“We were under no illusions today that it was going to be a tough game and that we had to play to our maximum to win, and we didn’t play to our maximum.

“We played some very average football in the first half. It certainly wasn’t the way we’ve been playing the last eight weeks, so it was quite disappointing.

 “I thought out intensity around the ball wasn’t good (and) their midfield really cleaned us up early in the game and gave them good opportunities.

“Our defenders were also on the back foot and were led to the ball, so I guess with that midfield-defence combination it wasn’t a great recipe in the first half.”

Knights said even when the Bombers fought their way back into the game, skill errors had brought them undone.

“Some of our turnovers cost us goals and cost them at crucial times, just when we had momentum,” he said.

“That probably was the key thing. When we had momentum we did make some crucial errors during the course of the game that cost us easy goals the other way and halted our momentum.”

Knights said it was “extremely unlikely” the Bombers would make the finals so they would continue to develop their young players and refine their game plan over the remaining three rounds.

“Early in the season we were way out of the region of even looking at finals or being near,” he said.

“So I guess we can only attack it the way we’ve attacked the last eight weeks and that’s playing aggressive hard running football (and) continuing to put youngsters in and give them exposure.

“We brought in three young guys today; (Courtenay) Dempsey, (Heath) Hocking and (Rhys) Magin. I thought Dempsey handled himself pretty well (but) it was a pretty tough initiation for the other two guys.”