Essendon skipper Jobe Watson and his teammates aren't satisfied with just a berth in the AFL finals, they want to make an impact.

The Bombers have a much-needed bye in the last home and away round after escaping with a seven-point win over likely wooden-spooners Port Adelaide, who were up by 34 points in the final quarter.

Essendon have already sealed eighth spot and will use the week to rest before they begin preparations for an elimination final against Carlton.

Watson said on Monday the weren't content with just making the finals in their first season under new coach James Hird.

"We sat down pre-season and said, 'Look, we don't want to be an irrelevant side - we want to change perception'," Watson said.

"We tried to improve every week, that's been the mantra for our whole year.

"We're pleased to have made the finals, but we certainly feel it's not just a good enough effort to make finals, we actually want to be competitive in there and as a playing group we believe we can be."

Watson rated Carlton highly and believed they were unlucky not to have a nailed down a top four, double-chance finals position.

A number of Essendon players will be at the MCG on Saturday night to watch the Blues battle St Kilda.

"I'm sure it will be a physical contest and I don't think we'll have a problem with that," he said.

"Hopefully they and the Saints will go crash and bash."

The Bombers have had mixed fortunes against them this season, the teams drawing in round four before the Blues romped to a 74-point win in round 18.

While training would continue after a few days' break this week, Watson said three players would hopefully get some valuable game time with the Bendigo Bombers in the opening week of the VFL finals against the Northern Bullants.

"Trav (Travis) Colyer will play, Welshy (Andrew Welsh), who's missed a fair bit of footy ... and maybe Cale Hooker as well, who's had a couple of hamstrings."

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