The annual Dreamtime At The 'G clash against Richmond is the start of a crucial three-game block for the slumping Bombers.
They were awful in the first quarter last Sunday against Fremantle. The game was effectively over when the Dockers waltzed out of the centre square and kicked three goals in the first few minutes.
That prompted a verbal barrage from coach Brad Scott at quarter-time. Bombers defender Redman said post-match that their start was not up to AFL standard - or any standard.
But Essendon out-scored Fremantle in the second half while going down by 43 points, and Redman is upbeat that the Bombers can carry that momentum into Friday's marquee clash against the injury-ravaged Tigers.
The Bombers must rally against Richmond, then fellow cellar-dwellers West Coast and Carlton, to breathe life into their dismal 1-9 season.
"I stand by what I said. The first quarter, our contest work wasn't up to scratch," Redman said on Tuesday.
"You have to take confidence from (the second half). If you look across the whole year, usually our contest is really good.
"It's not a pattern of behaviour, that first quarter. I have absolute faith in all the boys."
Ahead of the Dreamtime game, it has emerged that Essendon are looking at ways to improve their football department, with current chief executive Tim Roberts commissioning his predecessor Craig Vozzo in a consulting role.
While inevitably the focus falls on Brad Scott, Redman backed the coach.
"The message got through," Redman said of Scott's furious quarter-time address.
"As players, we've never wavered off the track we're on. Obviously performances haven't necessarily been at the level we've wanted this year - we're sitting at 1-9.
"But Brad fills us with belief, week-in, week-out, and he's the man for the job."
Redman was at the MCG to help promote the Dreamtime game with teammate Jade Gresham - who is the only hope for an Indigenous player to be on the field for Friday's game.
Gresham was named in the squad for last Sunday, but did not make the final 22.Â
"Obviously you want to be out there ... it's a special week. We'll see how it pans out," Gresham said.
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