Dons still see a path to finals

THE prospect of an unlikely finals charge has Essendon’s players fired up before their must-win clash with Gold Coast.

The Bombers will attempt to rekindle their faint finals hopes when they take on the Suns at Metricon Stadium tonight.

Essendon was one of the form teams of the competition, winning five of six games, before last week’s 16-point loss to Collingwood.

Devon Smith concedes there’s no margin for error for the Bombers — now sitting 12th on the ladder with a 7-8 record.

“We’ve got seven games to go and hopefully a (few) more,” Smith said yesterday.

“We need to win to try to make finals. They’re all important from here on.”

The Bombers play strugglers the Suns, who are on a 10-game losing slide, then Fremantle before a tough run home that includes four of the current top eight teams.

Their cause wasn’t helped by the losses of Jake Stringer (calf) and Patrick Ambrose (hamstring) against the Pies, but Orazio Fantasia will make a welcome return from a groin injury.

Smith will look to continue an impressive debut campaign with Essendon after crossing from GWS in the offseason.

The 25-year-old has played every game this year and leads the AFL in tackles laid (126) having been given more time in the midfield.

“I think I was a pretty good pressure player at the Giants but I was pigeonholed as a small forward. A new lease on life has really helped.”