ESSENDON captain Jobe Watson has called on the AFL to shorten pre-seasons to help improve players' longevity.?

Watson said the length of the pre-season - which almost matched that of the home and away season - was too long, floating the idea that all clubs return to training on December 1 after the NAB AFL Draft and Rookie Draft had been completed. ?

"The way that the AFL is trying to implement these rule changes, I think it's being counteracted by the length and stress the players' bodies are being put under by a pre-season," Watson said on Monday.

"It's something you'd like to be looked at."?

The in-form Bomber, who is averaging 29 disposals this year, said some senior players would retire rather than put themselves through another summer campaign. ?

"Players finish a season and they think to themselves 'I don’t know if I can put myself through another pre-season'. They love playing games and they're still able to contribute," Watson said.

"You don't want guys who are still great players to feel like they mentally can't see themselves get through another pre-season because of the length of them."?

Ahead of Essendon's clash with St Kilda on Saturday night, Watson said the Bombers' improved consistency had been important in its jump into top-four contention.

"We thought that our consistency of performance was not up to scratch last year," Watson said.

"Over the pre-season one of our main focuses was to be more consistent and I think that's going to be the continual challenge for the group - [whether we] can back up as the games get harder and the pressure comes on.??

"We've shown so far that the group's able to maintain that consistency. I think that the second half of the year is going to be a real challenge."

Callum Twomey is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter at @AFL_CalTwomey.