AFL legend Wayne Carey says Essendon’s Jake Carlisle must eliminate the considerable gap that still separates his best and worst form.

Carey helped mentor Carlisle last year when the Essendon big man hit career-best form, reeling in 19 and 12 marks against Collingwood and Western Bulldogs late in the season.

Carey was critical of the club’s decision to play the swingman in the ruck against West Coast on Saturday, telling Triple M: “Playing in the ruck I don’t think is a good thing”.

“You don’t send a Ferrari to plough a field. If he’s a Ferrari, that is,” Carey said on Sunday.

Eagles ruckman Nic Naitanui said “it’s a bit of an insult” that Essendon did not play a genuine No. 1 ruckman as the Bombers kicked only six goals in the 50-point loss in Perth.

The Bombers have kicked only 46, 53 and 59 points in their past three games, heaping pressure on coach James Hird.

Carey said rival clubs were lining up to trade for Carlisle at season’s end but was adamant the key tall must “harden up” and improve his competitiveness.

“Once again, he’s just got to harden up, that’s all it is. Harden up, whether he stays at the club next year or not,” Carey said.

“There’s clubs lining up for him because he shows talent and I know Jakey, but unless he’s prepared to put in the hard work, and compete, he’s never going to be a consistent footballer week in week out.

“That’s what footballers aim to be. Your best is there but your worst is not far under that. At the moment his best can be unbelievable but his worst is right down the bottom.

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“That’s what he’s got to get through his head.”

Essendon remains confident Carlisle will re-sign a contract to stay at Tullamarine, despite interest from Western Bulldogs and Adelaide.

Carlisle starred as a defender in 2013 but he told coach James Hird this season he wants to become a reliable and consistent forward.

Carey said work rate was the key to Carlisle’s performances and that he must accept whatever role that best served the team.

“We know that he is talented, but he’s got to suck it up,” Carey said on Triple M.

“At the end of the day he might have played better footy in defence and he’s played some great footy forward, but there’s going to be times when it’s not your day and you are not going to be able to take 14 marks

“But the one thing that you’ve got to do when you play in that key forward position is compete.

“You just have to make sure the ball comes to ground. You don’t necessarily have to kick four goals a game. Seriously Carlisle has to suck it up, put his bum down and do the hard work.”