Former Western Bulldogs captain Bob Murphy was impressed with what he saw from Essendon on Thursday night.
The Bombers went down by three points in a thrilling battle with Sydney.
Murphy believes Essendon has formed a more cohesive group this season, with those who wanted out of the club last year no longer within the four walls.
“The Bombers are more united in 2021 and they’re better off without Joe Daniher and Orazio Fantasia,” he told SEN’s Bob and Andy.
“When you’ve got players and you’re not sure whether they’re going to be there or if they want to be there, you can’t move forward properly.
“There’s no way they serve up what they did last night if they have Joe and Orazio playing.
“They were full of fight and grit and they were unreal last night the Bombers.
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“The phrase honourable loss has become on-the-nose, but I thought they were absolutely fantastic last night.”
Jordan Lewis agrees with Murphy.
“The buy-in from the Essendon players last night and last week might not have happened if those players were still there,” Lewis told AFL Nation.
“Because the conversation around those two players might actually affect the way the group works together.”
Daniher (Brisbane), Fantasia (Port Adelaide) and Adam Saad (Carlton) were three high profile departures from Tullamarine in the trade period.
Essendon will be on the road again next weekend, taking on Brisbane at the Gabba.