THE extent of Essendon's defensive weakness in 2008 has been demonstrated by a remarkable fact: it has had more points scored against it in eight games than a dying Fitzroy did in 1996.

The Bombers have conceded more points in eight games than any team at the corresponding stage since 1993, when the hapless Swans leaked a staggering average of 168 points a game.

Fitzroy of 1996 is considered a benchmark for poor teams in the past two decades — the Roys won only one game and were placed in administration mid-season. To this point in their last season, they had conceded 1019 points, compared with Essendon's 1057 this season.

The Swans of 1993 were arguably worse than Fitzroy in its death throes, also winning only one game, and had the dubious distinction of having three coaches that year — Gary Buckenara, who lasted only three games, caretaker Brett Scott and then the great Ron Barassi.

This year, in fact, two teams have fared worse for points against than the Roys of 1996, with 16th-placed Melbourne the next-worst since Sydney in 1993. The Demons have conceded 1055 points and, like Essendon under Matthew Knights, their new game-style has come under scrutiny.

That the Bombers have still managed to win two games, were competitive in two others — against the Western Bulldogs and St Kilda — and are higher placed than three other sides, defies the usual history of teams that are opened up defensively to that degree.

Essendon ranks as the equal-12th-worst for points conceded after eight games in the 112 seasons of VFL/AFL history.

Knights has defended his team's attacking style — which is considered somewhat responsible for the hefty scoring against the Dons — on the grounds that young players are being encouraged to use their skills and suggested that this was a transitory phase.

Knights last week told The Age that, over time, there would be a greater emphasis on defence by the Bombers.

"At this point, it's predominantly an attacking brand due to, I want to find out if the players can make good decisions at top-end speed and execute their skills. And obviously over time, there will be more, a greater emphasis on a defensive element and it's not to say it's not happening now …

"Even in the last two weeks, we've adjusted certain areas of our game that I think will help us defensively, and it's just getting that better balance in certain areas of the ground.

"There's no certain point where it will be ramped up specifically, but with this young group, you can't throw everything offensively and defensively at them at once, and we're doing a lot of work with our attacking brand. I would say we're working on certain areas of our defence, but we certainly haven't thrown everything at them yet."

Champion Data chief and statistician Ted Hopkins said the Bombers, who dropped full-back Mal Michael last night, had relied heavily on champion defender Dustin Fletcher, and did not have the midfield to protect their back line.

"They don't have the midfield capacity, which is part of the defence," Hopkins said.