The task for Essendon to win its first final since 2004 was made much harder on Monday when the club confirmed that Jake Carlisle's hamstring injury would force him out of this weekend's elimination final against North Melbourne.

Carlisle injured his hamstring at training last week and scans on Monday confirmed the muscle was still damaged.

His loss - the team's leader for goals and contested marks - is a significant blow, but Thompson said he was confident a combination of Joe Daniher, Paddy Ryder, Paul Chapman and others could kick a winning score, even though they failed to do so against Carlton on Saturday.

More importantly, the two-time Geelong premiership coach declared there were two key reasons why his team could now "mix it with the big boys" in September: Essendon's defence; and its ability to come back in games after being headed early.

Thompson said in the past 10 years the Bombers had not been as highly ranked as they are now (fourth), and took pride in the fact his team had, in "almost every game this season", been able to respond when challenged.

"That's a pretty special thing to do, and that's something that the team hasn't probably done that much of in the past," he said on Monday.

"And I've got confidence we'll do it this week, if it happens."

Although he conceded the draw against the Blues was not a good rehearsal for finals, Thompson said things didn't always go as planned in the final round of the season.

"I know we'll get the good Essendon this weekend," he said.

Thompson praised his players for making the finals during a tough year, dealing with the fall-out from the supplements scandal, and skipper Jobe Watson said the experience had made the players mentally stronger.

The 2004 elimination final win against Melbourne was the last time Essendon won in September. It has lost its three finals since, including by 62 points against Carlton in 2011, and 96 points (Adelaide in 2009).

Watson said the players felt an obligation to bring finals success back to Essendon.

"The opportunity to win finals, that's what the players want to do," he said. "And the opportunity might not come again for this group of players - we've got no idea what's going to happen in 12 months' time.

"It's the obligation, it's the challenge, it's the excitement to perform for this playing group."

Watson said many players had elevated their games in the extended period he was forced to sit out because of injury. And said more "peer-to-peer messaging" had been a factor in the rise of players such as ruckman Paddy Ryder, who seems to have finally emerged as one of the Bombers' most important and consistent players this season.

"I notice a difference on the field. [The players] have taken ownership of what they want the group to look like," Watson said. "The challenge will be, when the pressure is on, you win or you go home."

Thompson said David Myers would return after missing the Carlton game, and Mark Baguley was expected to pass a concussion test later this week.