Essendon legend Dustin Fletcher has warned his old side not to underestimate traditional rivals Carlton in their blockbuster AFL clash.
The beleaguered Blues are under all sorts of pressure, their season in freefall after seven losses in eight games.
But the finals door is ajar and there would be no better way to arrest the slide than an upset win over an old adversary in Sunday night’s encounter at the MCG.
“Carlton are still a good side,” Fletcher told AAP.
“There’s no doubt they’ve still got some good players and with the forwards (Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay) they’ve got some goal-kicking power up there.
“Essendon played last week against North Melbourne and people think you’re just going to win … but the players know what to expect.”
Fletcher, a two-time premiership player and club games record holder, will be an eager participant in Essendon’s 1993 flag reunion at the weekend.
It culminates in a function at Sunday night’s game, which is tipped to draw more than 80,000 fans.
A talking point among the flag heroes will be whether Brad Scott’s current group can replicate the famed Baby Bombers’ stunning premiership success, engineered by legendary coach Kevin Sheedy.
“I wouldn’t want to put too much pressure on them but I hope so,” Fletcher said.
“Being a young side you just go out there and play footy. You don’t think about it too much, you go out and do it.
“If you get to finals first and finish the year off … that’s why this is a big game. We’re 7-5 and games like this, when the final eight is going to be so congested, are massive.”
Essendon received a huge boost when best-and-fairest winner Peter Wright was cleared to return against Carlton, picked for his first game of the season after shoulder surgery.
Wright, a 203cm target, adds firepower in attack as the Bombers attempt to stretch Carlton’s defence, but midfielder Dylan Shiel (ankle) has been sidelined again.
The Blues have recalled Jack Martin, Ed Curnow and axed Lochie O’Brien and Zac Fisher after last week’s loss to Melbourne – Jack Silvagni was also dropped but won a reprieve when ruckman Marc Pittonet was ruled out on Saturday by injury.
Their fifth consecutive defeat ramped up the pressure on Michael Voss’ men, whose only win in the last two months was against lowly West Coast.
But Carlton great Lance Whitnall believes a few small improvements can change everything, sensing a win over old enemy Essendon could be the catalyst for a dramatic turnaround in fortunes.
“Momentum in footy these days is huge and once a team gets it and gets a run-on they’re pretty hard to stop,” Whitnall said.
“Our boys, once they get a couple of wins and get a bit of momentum, they’ll be a really good side.
“I’m hoping they come out Sunday and put their best foot forward, get that four points and get the monkey off their back and get going.”