Essendon coach John Worsfold under enormous pressure as GWS Giants prepare for to ambush Bombers

Essendon have already felt the wrath of GWS once this season and now Bombers coach John Worsfold’s future could hinge on a defiant response on Thursday night.

Having already left sacked Carlton boss Brendon Bolton in their wake, the GWS Giants could become coach killers again on Thursday night against Essendon.

Bombers coach John Worsfold is a premiership-winning coach, but his future could well hinge on the run home to the finals, with his highly-fancied Essendon outfit languishing outside the top eight and with it all to do.

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GWS ruthlessly slaughtered Essendon back in round one and the Bombers are reeling following their crushing loss to West Coast last week that has raised further questions over Worsfold’s tactics this season.

The Giants are without tagging assassin Matt de Boer, as they prepare to take on their former teammate Dylan Shiel at Marvel Stadium, but it’s Worsfold up in the coach’s box who has a target on his head.

Essendon coach John Worsfold is under pressure ahead of his side’s match against GWS. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/AFL Photos/Getty Images.

Worsfold can ill-afford a second Giants humiliation in as many meetings.

“No doubt we think about them (Essendon) and we seem them as a really dangerous team,” said Giants star, Josh Kelly.

“They’ll be coming off a performance against West Coast that they’ll want to improve on.

“Thursday night football, they’re going to be raring to go and they play an exciting brand of football. We’re expecting them at their best and I’m sure that’s what we’ll get.”

Losing de Boer for eight weeks with a shoulder injury is a major loss for the Giants, given the way he has mercilessly dominated Brownlow stars like Dustin Martin and Patrick Cripps.

Giants coach Leon Cameron may consider the likes of Adam Kennedy and Sam Reid to replace him as a hard-tag — potentially for their former ally, Shiel.

GWS stormed to victory against Essendon in Round 1 as Matt De Boer kept Dylan Shiel in check. Picture: Phil Hillyard.

"It's a funny problem to have because at the start of the year Matty was thrown into that role and he's been massive and did it so well that he became a fixture in our side," said Giants star, Josh Kelly.

"(But our attitude has) always been if one player goes out, another one comes in and is expected to play his role for the team.

"In terms of changing our structure I don't think Matty being out will matter too much, we've had Sam Reid doing jobs in the back half and doing well every week, and we had Adam Kennedy do a job on Jared Polec against the Kangaroos.

"It's up to us as leaders in the midfield to go to another level and step up to help the team."

GWS did a job on Shiel and another former Giant, Devon Smith, back in March, but the orange army are expecting a response.

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"I think he's (Shiel) having a great year, I've been really happy for him seeing him cement his spot in the team at Essendon," Kelly said.

"But as is always the case when you go up against a mate or ex-teammate, once the siren goes you're there to try and get the win.

“They're a different team now, as is the case with everyone 14 rounds into the season," he said.

"They've probably worked on different things and I'm sure there'll be different players in the team.

"Obviously we take a bit of confidence from it, but their best football is really good, so we'll plan for that and hopefully we can execute our game plan and get the win."