While Essendon's hierarchy may be making plans to replace him, coach Matthew Knights is just making plans.

Confident he will remain in charge of the Bombers in 2011 despite jungle drums beating to the contrary, Knights has foreshadowed his club being an active player in AFL trade week and the draft.

Top of Knights' wishlist is a quality midfielder to improve ball disposal which has bordered on hopeless in recent weeks.

And he has flagged "four or five" changes to the playing list for next season.

"No question that would be a priority," Knights said when asked if a top-class midfielder was on the shopping list.

"We'll certainly be very active (in trade week).

"You've got to look for opportunities at any time to improve your list and better yourself and we've also got to continue to go back to the draft as we have in the last three years.

Knights remains upbeat going into his side's last match of a season which will end in a bottom four finish - a clash with the finals-bound Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.

Following that, a wide-reaching internal review looms at the club with Knights set to play a large part in determining what happens next - assuming the Bombers allow him to stay put.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge of the off-season and the review and taking this club next year and moving on," Knights said.

"I'm under no illusions about how much hard work has to be done and how many different areas of the footy club we have to look at to get better."

He admitted the Bombers' bottom four status is probably a fair reflection of the club's season.

Essendon have plummeted ladder-wise since scraping into the top eight in 2009, though strangely five of their seven wins have come against teams who will play in this year's finals - including a double over St Kilda.

But Knights admits inconsistency has plagued the Bombers and that despite improvements in many areas, Essendon probably deserve to be where they are on the ladder.

"It has to be (a fair reflection of where the team sits in the AFL). There's no other way to judge it on win-loss," Knights said.

"There's great things that have happened in the club with the evolution of some of our players and the unearthing of some real top-end talent.

"But the challenge is all these guys are in their first or second year, and at times they're going to be a little bit inconsistent in their formline."

Essendon go into the clash with the Bulldogs without their skipper and best player this season Jobe Watson, who has a shoulder injury.

Veteran Mark McVeigh, who signed a new two-year deal midweek, will also miss the match with a knee injury.

The Bulldogs have been heavily weakened with the loss of stars Adam Cooney (hamstring), Brad Johnson (ankle) and Dale Morris (back).

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP