Essendon coach James Hird makes no apologies for his defence-focused game plan, which he says stacks up against the best teams in the AFL.
The ninth-placed Bombers are currently ranked sixteenth in the league for scoring, with their defensive capabilities set for a stern test when they take on unbeaten, ladder leaders Fremantle at Subiaco on Saturday night.
"Everyone looks at the scoreboard and wants you to kick 100-120 points," Hird said on Friday.
"But we're confident that we can restrict the opposition to less goals than we kick and that's what's important.
"We care about how we're playing, obviously, but we've got a game style we think will stack up against the best teams."
Full-forward Joe Daniher went goalless in last week's narrow win over St Kilda, but Hird refused to lay his side's scoring issues at the feet of the 21-year-old.
"He was quiet on the weekend, but we thought his first four weeks were pretty good," he said.
"He was kicking goals for us, taking marks, defending the way we want him to defend.
"It wasn't his best game on the weekend, but he's a young player trying to prove himself at AFL level.
"We've been very happy with his year to date and we expect him to have a good game on the weekend."
The Bombers made two changes to their side, with James Gwilt and Jackson Merrett coming in for Dustin Fletcher and Kyle Langford.
"Fletch has got a grumbly groin," Hird said of the defender who turned 40 during the week.
"It's been going on for five or six weeks now ... so we'll rest him and hopefully he can come up for North Melbourne next week."
Paul Chapman was also close to selection, but misses another week with a groin complaint.
The Dockers will be without a veteran defender of their own, with Luke McPharlin out with a calf injury.
"They've been the power team of the competition so far," Hird said.
"Their attack has been outstanding, they've defended well and their midfield has given them so much ball in their forward 50.
"They're a team who is a formidable opposition and we'll have to be at our best to be successful."
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