Essendon VFL’s top-four chances now hang in the balance after going down to fellow contender Werribee on Sunday afternoon.

The VFL Bombers matched it with the Tigers for periods throughout the match, but just couldn’t manage to peg it back after a three-to-six goal second term.

"I just though we were really inconsistent,” VFL Co-Coach Paul Corrigan said.

“We had really good quarters like in the first and probably the third, but I felt we went away from how we want to play in the second quarter and parts of the last as well.”

Corrigan said the leadership must improve if they are to match it with the better sides..

“Knowing the way we played in the first and third quarter and that we can match it with those good sides is promising, but it’s about how we adapt when the opposition challenges you and you try and wrestle that back off them," he said.

“I spoke about leadership coming from everyone.

“Good teams are able to produce that all over the ground and sometimes we rely on too few to bring that leadership.”

David Myers played his best game in the VFL. It was his third game back at this level after shoulder surgery earlier in the year.

Corrigan was particularly pleased with the midfielder’s efforts in the contest.

“I thought his performance was really good.

“He was really strong for us on the inside - I think he had 11 or 12 effective clearances for us.

“For him to get through a full game like that will give him a lot of confidence.”

Elliott Kavanagh was also significant. The 22-year-old put his name in the AFL selection ring after a ‘complete’ performance.

“His spread from the contest was really vital,” Corrigan said.

“The way he used the ball and the way he pushed back to help our defenders was also important.

“His game was complete from the outside and the inside.”

Next week’s match has become a vital one with just three weeks left in the season.

Essendon VFL faces Frankston - the second time these teams will meet this year.

“We’ve got to get back to playing consistently for a full game, and that’s what we will be focusing on is the game style on how we want to play,” Corrigan said.

“The scoreboard will be irrelevant - I think it’s more about what we want to do and how we go about it.”

Essendon 11.9 (75) defeated by Werribee 15.13 (103)

Goals

Essendon: K.Hardingham 3, J.Long, D.Willis, J.Melksham, T.Wallis, J.Schroder, E.Kavanagh, J.Thompson, C.McKenna

Best:

Essendon: D.Myers, E.Kavanagh, J.Melksham, J.Polkinghorne, B.McNiece, A.Browne