ESSENDON coach Matthew Knights has flagged versatile Bomber Nathan Lovett-Murray as an option to play on Richmond superstar Matthew Richardson in Saturday night's Dreamtime at the 'G clash.

Although Knights had earmarked the emerging Heath Hocking as the type of run-with player to feature on bigger midfielders this year, he believed Lovett-Murray had the capabilities to match-up on Richardson.

"He's [Lovett-Murray] certainly someone who can fit that size and athleticism demographic and we've got a few more options this week," Knights said.

Even Lovett-Murray, who was at the same media conference with Knights to promote the match, said he would "have a go at him".

"I haven't played on him before, but I've played against him and Dustin Fletcher usually gets the job on him, but I'd like to see Paddy Ryder play on him as well," Lovett-Murray said.

Knights, a former teammate of Richardson, said the powerhouse forward/midfielder was in the best form of his career and this was highlighted in round seven. 

"With Richardson, the St Kilda game, I thought was nearly the best game I've seen him play - a couple of weeks ago," Knights said.

"He was playing wing and forward and moving around beautifully and that's a credit to him, being a veteran in this league - he's a super fit athlete and he's got a lot of pride in his performance and credit to him.

"He's playing as good now as he was when he was 25, so he's a much respected player.

"He's playing a bit differently to how he's played conveniently for his whole career, but we used to run around the Botanical Gardens and as a midfielder, you prided yourself on the way you'd run and 'Richo' never used to be too far behind the midfielders at six foot six, so he's a pretty decent athlete.

"We're going to have to have a player who, one, can go with him on the run and two, is capable in the air."