Former Essendon great Tim Watson says the Bombers look better without All-Australian duo Michael Hurley and Joe Daniher, questioning how they will come back into the side.
Essendon have won their past two games, breathing new life into their season, which has not featured Hurley or Daniher due to injury.
And it's prompted Watson to question how selection will look once the pair are ready to return.
“This is the really interesting thing for Essendon. Joe Daniher is not playing in that forward line and Michael Hurley is not playing in that defensive unit at the moment – they actually look better without them,” he told SEN Breakfast.
Watson was quick to assure listeners that he did not think they aren't in the best 22, but the team's structure simply looks better right now without them.
“I’m not saying they’re a better team because they’re not playing, but they look better right now without both of those players.
“I’m saying the balance of the team looks better right now without an extra tall at each end.
“You would think they’re still automatic ins, but they’re going to have to shuffle and take another tall out elsewhere.”
“Earlier in the year they were unbalanced. They were trying to play three talls in their forward line and it didn’t work,” he said.
“Now they’ve got the problem at the other end too.
“They’ve put Cale Hooker back and it’s worked, they’ve got Patrick Ambrose who plays on the endurance athletes and Hurley now, I reckon there’s a big question they need to ask themselves about what combination they want back there."
The Bombers take on the Tigers this Saturday at the MCG in their annual Dreamtime at the G' clash.