1. It’s hard to imagine that a 200-game star could be under-rated, but Jamie Cripps has never received due recognition for his contribution to this team. In an era where statistics are used to judge a performance Cripps does not gather high numbers but his work rate is usually off the charts. He gut runs up and down the ground and is so often the link between defence, midfield and attack. Again he worked tirelessly against the Bombers, but also showed his class and football smarts with a tap over his head in the third quarter which landed with Jack Petruccelle at full tilt who finished with an important goal.

2. Sometimes you don’t understand to the full extent what you’re missing until there is a gentle reminder. Star key defender Jeremy McGovern was out for three months with a hamstring injury and then missed a further two weeks with concussion. But having him back was crucial to the competitive performance against the Bombers. Without McGovern and Tom Barrass the Eagles have been bullied by some big forwards. McGovern was opposed to “two metre’ Peter Wright who was held to just one goal and took a number of trademark intercept grabs.

08:02

Simpson post-match v Bombers

Senior coach Adam Simpson fronts the media following his side's gutting loss to Essendon

3. Young forward Ryan Maric is showing encouraging signs in the embryonic stages of his career. Selected in the mid-season draft Maric has not missed selection since coming into the team seven weeks ago. He has demonstrated a sound football IQ and kicked two goals in another impressive display against Essendon. He also revealed an ice-cool temperament when he kicked the second of those goals from a 40m set shot that put the Eagles in front with 80 seconds remaining.

4. Classy midfielder Tim Kelly, one of the front runners for this year’s John Worsfold Medal, again showed his class with a quality display in the engine room. Kelly had 30 possessions, 11 of them contested, five clearances and gained almost 500 metres from having the ball in his hands. When the Eagles surged in the final quarter and threatened to wrest the four points away from the Bombers, Kelly was the driving force.

02:58

Witherden post-match v Bombers

Defender Alex Witherden speaks with Eagles Media following his side's tough loss to Essendon in his 100th game

5. Speaking of getting a reminder of what the Eagles have been missing, in the last couple of weeks Elliot Yeo has been ubiquitous when the game has been on the line. Coming into the game in the second term as the tactical sub against the Roos he was outstanding in the last couple of minutes with some timely marks and long, clearing kicks. He repeated the dose, albeit without a winning result, against Essendon and is building nicely as the club leads into a round 23 derby.