Field Marshal: Essendon needs a miracle after its horror month Essendon's Joe Daniher. The Dons are in a big slump. RIGHT now Essendon is statistically worse than Greater Western Sydney. There are many ways to quantify the club's freefall, but that fact is as emotive - and accurate - as any. We know the Dons have plumbed new depths in the past month, losing four consecutive games by 45 points or more for the first time in their 116-year history. We know they have gone from fourth in points against in Rounds 1-17 to 18th in the past month. But the GWS comparison makes a stark point that, on current form, no club has ever entered the finals in worse shape. The form ladder in the past month has Essendon third last and winless with a measly percentage of 54.4. Even GWS sits above Essendon for percentage during this period. Essendon is 18th for points against (down from fourth), 16th in points for (down from third), 17th in disposal efficiency, 17th in scores from clearances and has an average losing margin of 58 points. So what has gone wrong? Injuries, a heavy training load and individual form slumps have rolled into the toll from the AFL/Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority investigation to create the perfect storm. It's impossible to distinguish whether it's the form or what's going on outside. I don't think we will ever know," coach James Hird said after the club's meek loss to North Melbourne on Saturday. I don't think anyone will recognise it, but when we came here in 2010 we were 16th in the competition. It takes a long time to build a good team. The last four weeks haven't been great but we are still 13 wins, we are still going to play finals. We believe we can have a good finals series. The statistical drop-off is so comprehensive that it is hard to pinpoint exactly what has gone wrong. The outside run is non-existent, the forward line has lost all structure and, as a result, the ability to defend as a team has evaporated. Even their strengths have become weaknesses. The Dons have a clearance differential of positive 13 in the past month, but they are still outscored from that source by more than 20 goals, ranked 17th. Clearly the form of individuals has an impact on all of these stats, with an amazing 14 players registering a drop of 10 or more Champion Data ranking points in the past month. Included are some injured players - Courtenay Dempsey is down an average of 42 points, Jason Winderlich 29 points and Stewart Crameri 32 points. But one-time All-Australian contender Jake Carlisle is down 25 points, Dyson Heppell 20, David Zaharakis 26 and Ben Howlett 32. Winderlich and Dempsey probably won't be back, and Heppell is no guarantee because of a foot fracture. In November last year Hird told the Herald Sun of the pressure on his club to win its first final since 2004, after a 2009 annihilation by Adelaide (96 points) and the 2011 elimination final loss to Carlton (62 points). It's a big year for all of us. I feel the pressure to succeed. We haven't had a lot of success since 2004. That was the last time we won a final. So I feel that pressure. It's internal. No one can even say whether Essendon will make September given the ASADA investigation. If Hird marches along the boundary line on September 7 or 8 as the coach of a side playing in an elimination final, it will be some kind of feat. But considering the form issues confronting Essendon now, winning and realising his pre-season goal would be even more of a miracle.