After Essendon's meek showing on Anzac Day a month ago, coach John Worsfold wants his players to embrace the occasion of their next marquee game - Dreamtime at the 'G on Saturday night.
Reflecting on the Bombers' 69-point loss to Collingwood in round five, specifically the start of the match when the Magpies piled on 10 of the first 11 goals, Worsfold thought his players tried to stay calm heading into the biggest day on the home-and-away calendar.
The former West Coast premiership mentor wants a different approach to what is a "significant game" this week against Richmond and believes playing in front of another big crowd will serve as an important learning curve for his inexperienced side.
"We want to really embrace the opportunity and represent our club proudly," Worsfold said at Tullamarine on Tuesday.
"Just really be aware of our build-up and basically that's it. You can't get the players to play a different way for the sake of a first-quarter start, but really just be switched on and enjoying the running out onto the ground and soaking up the excitement of it all.
"Every opportunity to play in front of big crowds is always great and feeling the tension and excitement of it.
"I think the players learned a lot from the Anzac Day game, we had a lot of players playing in their first Anzac Day game and probably didn't embrace the excitement of it as much."
Worsfold reinforced that the Dreamtime game meant a lot to his Indigenous players in particular, but not all of them would be available for selection.
Mathew Stokes (hamstring) almost certainly will not play but Courtenay Dempsey is a chance to return from his hamstring strain.
The Bombers coach didn't discount rookie-listed Jake Long, son of Indigenous Essendon legend Michael Long, making a fairytale debut, either.
"If they're ready to debut, I'll pick them, it wouldn't be around whether it's a big game or not," Worsfold said.
"They have to earn the spot and be the best person to fill the role for us on that day."
Meanwhile, No. 6 draft pick Aaron Francis is still at least three-to-four weeks away from being considered for senior selection as he continues his progression from a calf injury through the VFL.
This week, Worsfold will become just the 18th person in the history of the game to have played and coached in 500 games and he said he was still "excited" by the sport.
"It means I've been around for a while, I suppose," he joked.
"I love the game, I've loved my involvement through the whole time and I haven't been involved with a view to achieve any milestones, I've just been lucky to have been involved this long and I'm still really loving it."
