Essendon midfielder Jason Winderlich has called for umpires to show more leniency after the Bombers were hit with seven 50m penalties in Sunday's 19-point loss to Melbourne.

Essendon coach Matthew Knights, who pointedly stared at the umpires at three-quarter-time, may bring up the issue with umpires director Jeff Gieschen this week.

The seven penalties all resulted in Demons goals.

While he admitted that only a couple of the 50m sanctions were questionable, Winderlich said players could be given more leeway.

"I think there should be, it will be interesting to see what happens in a few weeks to come," he said on Monday.

"At the end of the day they're the rules - you've seen what the rules are so that's what we've got to play to.

"There were probably a couple of contentious ones but I think other than that we as players put ourselves in the position to give them away.

"(We) were not defending close enough on their forwards from the start and then coming in late to guard the mark and that's how we gave away the 50s.

"We were always just those couple of metres off their forwards, therefore we were coming in late and overstepping the mark."

He agreed though that Essendon failed to apply any pressure to Melbourne, who controlled the game from the start.

"Just across the whole board in the first half - midfield, forwards and backs - our defensive pressure wasn't good enough," Winderlich said.

"From now on we probably need to win six out of the seven games if we are going to try and push for a top eight (finish)."

Winderlich added his voice to those who have rejected the suggestion of a rift between the players and coach Matthew Knights.

"At the end of the day all the planning is predominantly done throughout the week at training and come match day for those two hours the game's left in the players' hands," he said.

"The 22 who run out each week I think it's their responsibility to put in the effort.

"As a player as well (as the coach) it's been pretty tough for the last five weeks but I think the worse thing now is to just let the season peter out into nothing.

"We've still got plenty to gain...I think it's important now that the senior guys keep standing up and that the young guys start to lift."

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