Geelong says a slow start against Essendon will hurt Geelong forward Allen Christensen says his side can't start slowly against Essendon. Picture. Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun Sp Slow Macca GEELONG onballer Allen Christensen has warned the Cats could be blown away against fellow ladder-leader Essendon tonight if they give away a start. In six games this year Geelong has trailed in the first half five times by 17 points or more in the second term. Christensen said the team could not afford to work into the game against Essendon. The Cats have overcome second-quarter deficits of 30 points against Hawthorn and 41 against North Melbourne. Christensen, who has been a key player in some of those revivals, says while the team has a very firm belief in each other, it won't last forever. We believe in each other, no matter how far we are down. But I guess the solution is to not get that far down and we will keep working to fix it," he said. Against a really good side we won't be four or five goals, we're going to be 19 goals down. "We will improve on it and hopefully it will take us even further," Christensen said. Essendon is playing unbelievably well and have really good team balance. So we have to try to match them and go to another level. Essendon made six changes but could not find a spot for ruckman/forward Paddy Ryder who was available after serving a three-match suspension. Geelong made just two changes, bringing in Jackson Thurlow for his debut, and Jordan Schroder for just his second game after he made his debut last season. The Bombers brought back veteran Dustin Fletcher, Jake Carlisle, Dyson Heppell, Michael Hurley, Jason Winderlich and Nathan Lovett-Murray. Brent Stanton (groin) and Courtenay Dempsey (ankle) were ruled out after failing fitness tests. Tayte Pears, Leroy Jetta and Jackson Merrett were axed, while ruckman David Hille is unavailable for two games while attending a wedding in France. Ryder was expected to come straight back into the side for Hille, and coach James Hird admitted he was unlucky not to be recalled. "Unfortunately for Patrick Ryder we have decided to go with Scott Gumbleton at centre half-forward," Hird told the club's website. Scott has been in excellent form and we didn't think that it was right to play another tall. Paddy hasn't done anything wrong but unfortunately when you go out of the team it is hard to get back in at the moment. Geelong lost Joel Corey to a knee injury, while Jordan Murdoch was dropped.