ESSENDON wants out-of-favour big man Jonathan Giles to compete more before it rewards him with senior selection, as the Bombers search for an answer to their ruck problem. 

North Melbourne star Todd Goldstein ran rampant in Friday night's win over the Bombers, amassing 27 disposals, 56 hit-outs, eight clearances and eight marks in a best-on-ground display.

Essendon coach James Hird acknowledged Goldstein as the difference between the sides in his team's 25-point loss, with undersized part-time ruckman Shaun McKernan dominated by the in-form Roo.

Having lost Paddy Ryder last year to Port Adelaide and first-choice ruckman Tom Bellchambers to miss the rest of the year with a foot fracture, Hird has chosen not to use Giles, despite the club recruiting him just last year.

He said the former Greater Western Sydney ruckman, who was also courted by Adelaide during last year's trade period before choosing the Bombers as his preferred destination, needed to lift but could be in contention if he plays well in the VFL on Saturday.

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"We just want a more competitive effort from Jonathan. He's starting to give us that and [it's] an expectation of the way he plays. He's got some really good attributes, particularly up forward. He's a good forward for us," Hird said.

"But we're coaching him to be the player we want him to be and that sometimes takes a bit of time in a different system. It's not a six-month program, it'll take its time. But as I said, he may play next week."

Hird said they planned for ways to combat Goldstein, but their ideas "didn't work, obviously". However, he thought McKernan deserved the first opportunity in the ruck after some encouraging form since being elevated off the rookie list.

"I don't regret it. Shaun's been in pretty good form for us. Not necessarily in the tap outs, because he's an undersized ruckman," Hird said.

"But his competitive nature around the contest and [he has been] giving us some good spread, I think he's been in reasonable form, so you back your players in form.

"There's no doubt he got beaten tonight, but Goldstein's beaten a lot of very good ruckmen. [He] had a bad night. We're not going to throw Shaun out straight away either."

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The Bombers, filled with youth across the ground, were otherwise competitive against North Melbourne. 

The trial of Cale Hooker as a forward had its good moments, with the All Australian defender taking 13 marks and offering a consistent target. If not for inaccuracy in front of goal (he kicked 1.4 for the night), Hooker would have been a more influential figure.

Hird said he would toy with the idea of keeping Hooker in the forward line when Jake Carlisle returns from an ankle injury in about 2-3 weeks. 

Essendon plays Port Adelaide next Saturday night and with a return to the finals out of the picture, the Bombers are still focusing on consistent performances in the last seven games of the season.

"There's a lot of excitement when you're coaching a young team. You go into the game with a different mindset because you want to see the young kids have a go. Tonight we saw that," Hird said. 

Jonathan Giles (right) is yet to make his Essendon debut despite the club's thin ruck stocks. Picture: AFL Media