Essendon coach Brad Scott has remained buoyant that the club's list can cover a host of season-ending injuries to key position players, with debutant Lewis Hayes the latest to join the casualties.
The Bombers have lost emerging ruck duo Sam Draper and Nick Bryan to ACL injuries, while SSP recruit Tom Edwards was also downed with a serious knee injury. And in the stirring win over Sydney, Hayes joined them.
Mobile forward Harrison Jones dislocated his ankle and has no return date set, while intercept defender Jordan Ridley will miss the next seven weeks with a hamstring injury, placing immense pressure on the list depth.
"You can't deny the frustration," Scott said on Wednesday.
"It's your response to the frustration that counts. And coaches talk all the time to players about controlling what you can control, and coaches have got to walk the walk there.
"Clearly, we're disappointed, we're not denying that, but we've got to move on to what's next, and stay focused on the things we can control, and the thing we can control, right at the moment, is giving opportunity to other players. And those players can control being ready for the opportunity when it comes."
Jayden Laverde returned from his two-game VFL suspension for headbutting a Port Melbourne Borough player last month, and is an "option" to replace Hayes in defence.
Laverde gathered 32 disposals and seven marks in the win over Sydney.
Former Pick 5 Elijah Tsatas also put his name among selection consideration after a dominant performance in the reserves, amassing 41 possessions, 10 clearances and a goal.
Small forwards Matt Guelfi and Alwyn Davey Jr. both collected 15 touches and slotted two majors.
The Bombers are also close to welcoming back Darcy Parish to the mix, whose return will be pushed back to next weekend, as the club has a VFL bye.
Scott and his men have turned around a sluggish start to win four of the past five outings, and set up a mouth-watering clash with the Western Bulldogs on Saturday at Marvel Stadium.
