Essendon coach Ben Rutten says his players’ effort against Richmond is the ‘baseline’ for performance

Essendon is not giving up on making finals as it prepares to travel to South Australia to take on resurgent Port Adelaide.

Essendon’s forward line will regain promising youngster Harry Jones against Port Adelaide. Picture: Getty Images

Coach Ben Rutten wants Essendon’s effort in a losing cause against Richmond last week to be the “baseline” for his struggling side moving forward.

The Bombers are headed to Adelaide Oval on Sunday to face the in-form Power, which won four of its past five matches to resuscitate a season that looked lost through five rounds.

Rutten has similar ambitions for Essendon and hasn’t given up on finals but admitted playing in September also wasn’t a focus for his 2-8 team.

“We just need to continue to keep backing up our performances and find a bit more cohesion out on the ground,” he said.

“(If we can) consistently find that kind of winning formula, I suppose, to be able to get some momentum and belief into the group, who knows where it can go from there?

“But it’s always our aspiration to compete and win finals. At the moment, our attention’s on what we’re going to do this week to prepare and perform on Sunday.”

Essendon coach Ben Rutten and captain Dyson Heppell hope for better times ahead for the Bombers. Picture: Michael Klein

The Bombers endured another willing session at Tullamarine on Friday as Rutten seeks the same spirit and intensity his players produced in the Tigers defeat, after an insipid performance the week prior against Sydney.

“It’s a baseline of what we need to be doing,” he said.

“It’s a hard, physical, combative game, AFL footy, and the Sydney game, we were way off it – there’s no doubt about that.

“Last week we were back competing somewhere near the level we need to do regularly.

“There are still plenty of opportunities to improve and continue to work on our fundamental stuff, but that’s the expectation we’re still driving.”

Young key forward Harry Jones is set to return from a problematic ankle issue after playing in the VFL last weekend, while key defenders Jordan Ridley and Brand Zerk-Thatcher are also among the potential ins.

Defender Jordan Ridley is available after exiting the AFL’s health and safety protocols. Picture: Getty Images

More height down back will be important for Essendon, with Charlie Dixon poised to join Todd Marshall and Mitch Georgiades in Port Adelaide’s three-pronged tall attack.

“He’s obviously a huge presence up there in the forward line and gives them a really key target,” Rutten said of Dixon.

“Marshall and Georgiades have been pretty impressive as well, impacting the scoreboard, so we’re expecting Charlie if he plays to come back in and be at his best.

“There are other players up there that we need to take care of as well, but we understand that a fair bit of footy generally goes through Charlie.”

Rutten revealed that Jake Stringer (hamstring) would take a significant step towards playing again when he reintegrates with the main training group next week.