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Essendon vice-captain Andrew McGrath admits the shock defeat to Adelaide was "brutal" but the Bombers have no other choice than to look forward, not back.

Essendon are coming off a "brutal" defeat and vice-captain Andrew McGrath admits players would like some moments back.

The Bombers suffered their most heartbreaking loss of the Brad Scott-era, blowing a 15-point lead with seven minutes remaining to go down to Adelaide by two points last Friday night.

Players, coaches, officials and fans were left dejected after the match, with the rooms more akin to a grand final loss than a round-19 game.

Speaking post-game, running defender McGrath was already focused on trying to get better.

"Footy can be a brutal game at times - it hurts," the former No.1 draft pick said.

"We just wanted to defend well and we probably gave up a few soft goals, a few goals out of the back that we would like to have back again but you just want to weather the storm as best as possible.

"We'll think a lot about our individual mistakes and team mistakes, but the reality of our game is we've got to get back to work.

"We're under no illusion that we're the finished product, we need to have a strong finish to the season and play the brand of footy that we saw in that third quarter more consistently."

Essendon sit eighth ahead of a must-win game against St Kilda at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.

Due to ladder logjam, the Bombers would have been in fifth with five games to go had they beaten the Crows.

Essendon secured a gritty four-point win over the Saints back in round three, sparking an early-season run that had fans dreaming of ending their 20-year drought without a finals win.

The Bombers will be boosted by the return of best-and-fairest winners Peter Wright and Dyson Heppell, who were both dropped for the match against Adelaide.

Midfielder Darcy Parish returns after being sidelined since the round 10 win against GWS.

The 15th-placed Saints' only change is Anthony Caminity replacing speedster Liam Henry, who has been ruled out for the season with a knee injury.