Bombers switch focus to Dockers job

Bombers coach James Hird looking happy after Essendon destroyed Melbourne. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

ESSENDON is relishing the challenge of what coach James Hird described as arguably the toughest AFL assignment right now - taking on Fremantle at Subiaco.

After feasting on a sick and sorry Melbourne to the tune of 148 points last night, the Bombers will immediately switch focus to the Dockers on Friday night.

Hird said the players were looking forward to getting a gauge of what sort of improvement the club has made after a tough pre-season.

"We have obviously got a very challenging opponent next week in Fremantle ... who play a very defensive style of football, but also have some terrific talent and are able to score as well," Hird said.

"We know what we are up for. We saw Fremantle (against the Bulldogs yesterday) and the players know what we are in for.

"If you look at interstate trips, Sydney is obviously a big one, but going to Freo to play Freo in the form that they are in is as tough a task as you will get at the moment.

"We are under no illusion that it is going to be a big game."

He remains confident Stewart Crameri, who kicked six goals last night, will be right to play after going off the ground with a pinch in his knee last night.

Hird said David Zaharakis was subbed out of the game purely as a precaution heading into a six-day break.

Essendon has worked hard on becoming a better defensive side this season and showed that last night by restricting Melbourne to only five goals, while piling in 28 goals for themselves.

"Coming into this year ... it is no secret that we wanted to play a better defensive side of our game than it has been over the last two years of me coaching this club, and even longer than that," he said.

"We wanted to play a defensive style of football that means the opposition can't score and that happened (last night)."

He was pleased with the continued development of Dyson Heppell as a midfielder, saying that the hard work he had put in was starting to produce more consistent performances.

"We spent the last five or six games of last year putting Dyson in the centre square," he said. "He spent the pre-season practising his craft and getting better in the midfield and (trying to be) a quality midfielder.

"At the moment he is going in that direction ... his last two weeks have been very good."

Essendon had 12 individual goalkickers last night, with Crameri six and Tom Bellchambers four leading the way.

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