Bombers stand by fitness plan

Essendon coach James Hird has defended the Bombers' tough training regime following the loss of two more key players to injuries.

The Bombers have suffered 17 separate occurrences of soft tissue injuries to 11 players this season, with Paddy Ryder and Michael Hurley the latest casualties.

Ryder will miss up to a month after straining his calf at training, while Hurley has been sidelined for up to three weeks with a hamstring problem.

"We need to get physically better to compete with the best sides, and with that comes consequences and risk," Hird said.

"We're not happy with the injuries we're getting, but part of it is a new program teaching guys how to get fitter and stronger.

"For every player that gets injured we're disappointed, but we're still very confident in the program we've got going.

"It sounds fairly cold, but we're trying to build a team that when it gets an opportunity is successful and prepared the right way.

"We think we've got an excellent physical preparation program that is having some problems at the moment, but we think it will do the right thing over a long enough period of time."

Essendon have made four changes for Saturday's clash against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium, with Scott Gumbleton, Mark Baguley, Tom Bellchambers and Cory Dell'Olio all promoted.

"You always like to have your best players playing, and we haven't got some of those this week, but that creates huge opportunity for some people," Hird said.

"We've been able to handle injuries reasonably well this year we just hope that's the case this week."

Forgotten forward Gumbleton has not played an AFL game since late 2010, while mature-age rookie Baguley has been elevated to the senior list for his first match.

Hird said Gumbleton and big man David Hille would provide the targets in attack, with Bellchambers, Jobe Watson and David Meyers to rotate through the forward line as support.

The Bombers, who lie sixth on the ladder with a 10-4 record, have not beaten the Power in Adelaide since Round 16, 2000.

"It's a record that we want to change," Hird said.

"Our last two performances against Port Adelaide have been very close wins for us, and could have gone either way. Up until then they've convincingly beat Essendon."