Essendon’s 54-point loss to Port Adelaide was further compounded with three players suffering injuries.
Jye Caldwell (hamstring), Sam Draper (ankle) and Dylan Shiel (knee) are all facing stints on the sidelines as the Bombers slumped to 0-2.
Essendon coach Ben Rutten provided updates on the injured trio post-game.
“Jye is just a hamstring. Dylan is a knee and Draper is kind of a high ankle,” Rutten told reporters.
“The doctors don’t think it (Shiel’s injury) is an ACL. It’s just locked up a little bit, so he’ll have some scans and work out exactly what it is, but it didn’t look great.
“(Draper has) one of those high ankle ones we think at the moment, but we’ll have to investigate a bit further.”
Rutten is hopeful Bombers captain Dyson Heppell will be available to face St Kilda after he was a late withdrawal from Saturday’s game with a back spasm.
“We don’t think it’s anything too serious, but it was enough to keep him out of this week,” Rutten said.
“We’re hopeful he’ll be available next week. But certainly we’ll test our depth now.
“As disappointing as it is to lose those three guys it creates an opportunity now to have a look at other players.”
The Bombers conceded 11 first-half goals and were comprehensively beaten in all departments against a slick Power outfit.
Kane Cornes described Essendon’s performance as a “training drill” with their defensive work in transition a cause for concern.
“At half-time they (Port Adelaide) had kicked eight goals from backline transitions - which would be the most scary and frightening thing for Ben Rutten - because all I’ve heard him speak about since he's been at that footy club is defence and getting the players to buy in,” Cornes told AFL.com.au’s The Round So Far.
“Well, they’re not buying in.
“It was a training drill at Adelaide Oval today (Saturday).”
Winless after two rounds, Essendon take on the Saints at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.