The mother of all last-gasp AFL losses has done nothing to shake Essendon's belief that they are on the right track.
Veteran Bombers assistant coach Mark Harvey said he felt disbelief as Sydney roared home from 19 points down on June 23 to beat them by a point.
Harvey said Essendon reviewed the last four minutes of the match twice during the week and then put it behind them.
He expects no fallout this Sunday when they host bottom side Brisbane at Etihad Stadium.
"It won't affect us mentally - I'd like to think that the determination and thought process is that we keep playing in an aggressive manner," Harvey told AAP.
"We've managed to do that nearly all season, all bar Adelaide we've been in games for long periods.
"I can't see us deteriorating. John (Worsfold) has been saying the group is showing more and more cohesion and I agree with that.
"With that comes predictability and better outcomes."
In this season of rampant unpredictability, there is no doubt that Lions coach Chris Fagan will tell his young side they can beat the Bombers.
"That's the equality of the AFL," Harvey said.
"We all know now if mentally you're not switched on, then whoever you play, you give them a look or understanding of them perhaps winning, then confidence can come quickly.
"We need to play our way and put it right on the opposition, particularly early."
Essendon are a game outside the top eight and must beat the Lions to stay in touch.
They have regained Cale Hooker and Darcy Parish, while Brisbane have lost captain Dayne Beams to a shoulder injury.
There is a strong sense at Essendon that they will improve in the back half of the season as the side continues to gel.
The Bombers regained 10 players from doping bans at the start of the year and they knew it would take time to develop cohesion.
"The group's really ambitious - there's an underlying thought process of wanting to succeed," Harvey said.
"All the indicators in the background - what we do on a daily basis - suggest at some stage we're going to have success in the short term.
"Whether it's this year or next year, it's only around the corner."
Share
