Essendon midfielder Brent Stanton has apologised to the AFL club's fans after their embarrassing loss to Adelaide.

The Bombers only kicked five goals on Saturday night as the resurgent Crows belted them by 84 points.

That leaves Essendon 12th on the ladder eight games before the finals, two games out of the top eight and with a poor percentage.

They will play Melbourne on Sunday at the MCG.

"There's always a point to prove when you have so many fans, which Essendon (do)," Stanton said on Monday.

"We apologise to all the fans and we'll come out this week and put up a good performance."

Saturday night's disaster was their fourth-straight loss and highlighted their shocking interstate record.

The Bombers have not won on the road since round 15 last year and the weekend was their third loss outside Victoria this season.

They have won just two of the last 10 matches at AAMI Stadium.

"We've struggled a little bit interstate, but it might be the mentality," Stanton said.

"We haven't really worked it out, we have some fantastic people around the football club who have come from interstate.

"We've got to mature as a side, and we're building a group that can hopefully take us forward."

It is the second time this season that the Bombers must rally after a bad run of form.

They had one win from their opening five games after the horrible performance on Anzac Day against Collingwood.

But they won four of the next five to put themselves into top-eight contention.

Now it will take an unlikely run of form to repeat last year's finals appearance.

"We're disappointed as a group that we haven't won more games than we have," Stanton said.

"We want to reduce that gap between our best and not our best football - if we can bridge that gap, well hopefully earn a bit more respect."

Angus Monfries is a chance to resume from a hamstring injury, but ruckman David Hille's training setback last week means he is at least a fortnight away as he recovers from his hamstring problem.

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