Captain Jobe Watson will return from injury as Essendon embark on their AFL season-defining stretch.

The Bombers meet Carlton, Collingwood, Sydney in the next three weeks, a sobering fact for coach James Hird.

"Don't remind me," Hird said after a stirring comeback victory over Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Friday night.

Skipper Watson has missed three matches with a hamstring strain, and wanted to play in the 11-point win over the Crows.

"It's really exciting for us," Hird said of Watson's recall for next Saturday's blockbuster against the Blues.

"We were on the verge of playing him this week and there was a big debate in selection - and a big debate with Jobe on Wednesday when we told him that he wasn't playing.

"He thought he was right to play."

The Bombers cling to eighth spot but have a horror run home, also including games against Western Bullldogs, West Coast and a last round bye.

But Hird believed his players had the mettle to meet the challenge, their five game losing streak now last month's memory.

"The character of our players has probably been harshly judged the last year or so," he said.

"And particularly when we lost five in a row, the character of our leaders has been harshly judged.

"I think people just get sick of losing after a while and sick of being judged harshly when they know they are good people.

"It was good reward for them and it should give them terrific confidence this year or next year about how we play our football."

The Bombers trailed Adelaide by six goals at halftime but a storming finish landed an 11-point win, their first over the Crows since 2007.

"This year is about improvement for us and every step we take, I think we improve," Hird said.

"It was another example of improvement, we have had some pretty heavy losses here (in Adelaide) but this group wants to make their own mark.

"To win in Adelaide, six goals down at halftime - I think that is a pretty good sign we have improved to a certain extent."

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