AFL round 8 Essendon v North Melbourne: Live scores, updates, SuperCoach scores

Peter Wright says the Bombers are still a work in progress, but have plenty of youngsters ready to step up. And when it comes to their diminished tall stocks, he’s ready to step up too.

Essendon forward Peter Wright says the Bombers are still a work in progress, but have a group of youngsters eager to learn and to get better, with the experience of playing in front of 92,000 fans on Anzac Day something that will stand them in good stead.

“Look, it’s a great experience whether you are talking about (Isaac) Kako or (Zach) Merrett, who has probably played in about 10,” he said.

“I have played in four now, and you get goosebumps.”

Subscribe to CODE Sports for breaking news and deeper coverage of your favourite clubs for only $1 for your first month

“I feel like we have some really strong characters in the group. ‘Cads’ (Nate Caddy) was a bit quiet in the first half but it felt like he came into the game. I love working with him.

“‘Kak’ brings energy and pressure. There are moments in the game when he is phenomenal with his pressure and chasing speed.

“Jaxon Prior has really built into the season … this was Archie Roberts’ first Anzac Day game, too.

“Zach Reid has played about 15 games of footy as a key backman. He is playing career-best footy and he will keep building.

“Then there is also Sammy Durham who just cracks in and is incredibly hard at the ball – and the man. He got it going for us (against Collingwood).”

He has backed in 36-year-old Todd Goldstein to lead the club’s ruck stocks, given the season-ending injuries to Sam Draper and Nick Bryan. And he’s eager to help out as a ruck back-up.

“Goldy is phenomenal … he is great to play with and we are going to need him down the stretch of the season,” he said.

Todd Goldstein has a vital role to play. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

He said the Bombers were building into the season and were eager to get back on the winner’s list against North Melbourne, though he knows it represents a challenge.

“We started the season slowly but we are really building into it,” he said. “We feel like we have got our teeth into the season now.

“Every game we are seeing some evidence of how we want to play.

“What Brad (Scott) spoke about (after Anzac Day) is how close the competition is. Collingwood was a better side than us (on the day) and they are the best in the competition (right now).

“But we are not that far away. We don’t want to be the finished product in round 7 or 8; we want to keep building for August and hopefully September, and that’s what every team wants.”

Originally published as AFL round 8 Essendon v North Melbourne: Live scores, updates, SuperCoach scores