ESSENDON coach John Worsfold will ignore the ladder and focus on developing a team for future success after his side fell two games off the top-eight pace on Sunday.

The Bombers' 16-point defeat to Collingwood means they will likely have to win all of their remaining seven matches to qualify for September, because of their comparatively poor percentage.

That doesn't automatically mean Worsfold will unleash one-time blue-chip draftee Aaron Francis, but it could be a factor in whether Joe Daniher plays again this season.

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Francis, the No.6 draft pick in 2015, was an emergency again this weekend and may need to rely on a Michael Hurley or Brendon Goddard injury to break into Essendon's senior side.

The 20-year-old, who requested a trade back to South Australia after last season, took leave from the club at the start of the year due to his mental health, and has not added to his five AFL games.

Francis was a 193cm swingman in his draft year, but has primarily played as an intercepting defender in the VFL.

"Aaron Francis is playing really good footy, so he's available to play, if the role, the specific role he plays, is available there, then he'll come in and play that," Worsfold told reporters.

"Hurley (and) Brendon Goddard play a similar role to what Aaron would … he's not going to come in to replace (Adam) Saad or (Conor) McKenna, because he doesn't play that role.

"He just has to wait for his opportunity. He's playing good enough footy. (But) he's miles away from being the player we know he's going to be – he's a developing tall player that's just going to continue to improve.

"This is not drastic for him – the fact he's having to wait for an opportunity – and he's building his game while he's waiting for that opportunity."

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Players taken after Francis in his draft year include Jacob Hopper, Wayne Milera, Charlie Curnow, Daniel Rioli, Tom Doedee, Jade Gresham and Ryan Burton.

The Bombers' awful 2-6 start has improved to 7-8, but a percentage of 94.1 places them almost 24 shy of eighth-placed Hawthorn.

The disappointing season of results comes after great expectations were placed upon Essendon with the addition of Devon Smith, Jake Stringer and Adam Saad to a finals team last year.

"It's (still) going to be a massive season for setting us up to become a great team, so that would never be a waste in my eyes," Worsfold said.

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"We started this season with a bit of a different squad … and we've learned a lot and we've made a lot of changes throughout the course of the year to the squad and roles in the way we play.

"We've played some really good footy and I'd say over the last six or seven weeks, it's been a big tick."

Worsfold said Daniher had made "giant strides" in his recovery from a groin injury that had sidelined him since round seven, but the star forward is no guarantee to return in 2018.

"He's on a program to progress in terms of running and getting back towards playing late this year, without a date on it … it will be taken according to how he feels," the coach said.

"So if he tracks along according to his program, that's great – he's a chance to play later in the year.

"But if he has any setbacks along the way, that may push him outside the scope of playing within the season."