ESSENDON coach James Hird is not concerned by criticism of the Bombers' low-scoring game style, which he believes can stack up against the competition's best.
The Bombers are ranked No.16 in the AFL for 'points for' this season and on Saturday night they face the best defensive team in the first five rounds, with Fremantle ranked No.2 for 'points against'.
Hird, however, said he was more concerned about restricting the opposition, with the Bombers keeping their opponents to an average score of 76.2 this season (ranked No.6).
"We're playing a game style that's trying to restrict the opposition and the way they're scoring, so we're confident we'll score more than the opposition," Hird said as the team flew out of Melbourne airport on Friday.
"Everyone looks at the scoreboard and wants you to kick 100-120 points, but we're confident we can restrict the opposition to less goals than we kick. That's what's important to us.
"We care about how we're playing, obviously, but we've got a game style we think will stack up against the best teams."
Tall forwards Joe Daniher and Jake Carlisle have combined for 16 goals this season at an average of 3.2 a game between them, but Hird said he was not concerned about their output.
David Zaharakis and Travis Colyer are the only midfielders to have averaged a goal a game, while forward Patrick Ambrose has managed just two goals in five appearances.
Hird conceded Daniher had a quiet game in round four against St Kilda, with no goals and just three possessions, but he said the Bombers had been happy with his season so far.
Daniher kicked nine goals in the first four rounds and won't have to worry about Fremantle key defender Luke McPharlin, who will miss this week with calf soreness.
"He (Daniher) was quiet on the weekend, but we thought his first four weeks were pretty good," Hird said.
"He was kicking goals for us, taking marks, defending the way we want him to defend.
"It wasn't his best game for us on the weekend, but he's a young player trying to prove himself at AFL level and we've been very happy with his year to date.
Hird labelled the undefeated Fremantle the "power team of the competition so far" and said the Bombers would plan for important forwards Matthew Pavlich and Michael Walters to play after they were named despite suffering concussion in round five.
The coach said veteran defender Dustin Fletcher was expected to return against North Melbourne in round seven after being left out this week with a "rumbly groin".
Midfielder Jackson Merrett has been selected for his first game this season and flew with the team on Friday morning. Orazio Fantasia travelled as the emergency.
"He's had a very good four weeks in the reserves," Hird said of Merrett.
"He's been a high possession getter but he's also defended really well and is winning his fair share of contested football.
"We need his run. Fremantle are a very good running team and we want to be able to compete in that area."
