Essendon fans warned to brace for 'short-term pain'

With Essendon's losing streak stretching to 16 games and an Easter Sunday clash against the unbeaten Bulldogs looming, Bombers coach Brad Scott has warned supporters to prepare for more "short-term pain".

After suffering two 10-goal losses to start the season, the Bombers lifted their intensity against North Melbourne on Saturday night, eventually falling 12 points short of the Kangaroos at Marvel Stadium.

But despite an improved effort in the 12.9 (81) to 9.15 (69) loss, many of Essendon's major concerns remain.

The Bombers were smashed around stoppages (31 to 21) for a third consecutive week, and have allowed their opponents to take at least 20 marks inside 50 in each match.

North Melbourne finished with 53 more marks (138 to 85), a slight improvement for the Bombers after allowing Hawthorn and Port Adelaide to take more than 150 each in their first two games.

With 10 players with 30 or fewer games representing Essendon on Saturday night, the side's inability to win contests and create turnovers between the arcs looks unlikely to improve any time soon.

But even as pressure mounts on Scott, the fourth-year coach insists his eyes remain fixed on Essendon's future.

"Look at the decisions to prioritise youth over experience," Scott said post-match.

"It would make my life a lot easier just to bring a whole lot of experienced players in.

"But I'm not in it for the easy (path) ... I'm in it to build a platform for this club that has been starved of success for a long time."

To get there, Essendon may have to endure some more punishing losses.

"The decisions we made to look to the medium to long term, we accepted that there was short-term vulnerability and there might be some short-term pain - but we're willing to endure that.

"The decisions that we're making are not to look for the quick fix, which is very tempting when you feel some pressure.

"I don't mean just me. The whole club feels it."

What does the "medium to long-term" refer to exactly, and when are Essendon aiming to become contenders again?

"I don't really have time at a press conference to explain it," Scott replied when asked.

In the short-term, Scott and Essendon will focus on next week's clash with the Western Bulldogs, who thumped the Bombers by more than 90 points twice last season.

Defeat would extend Essendon's losing streak to 17 matches, tying a club record set in 2016, when they fielded a ramshackle team after players were suspended over the supplements saga.

"Essendon's been around for over 150 years through some really difficult times," Scott said.

"We're going through a difficult time at the moment but we'll be fine."