JOHN Worsfold believes Essendon's improved chemistry after "teething problems" early in the season has been a major factor in the Bombers' form spike and better performances on the road.
The Dons are preparing to face a weakened West Coast – without star forwards Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling – on Thursday night in Perth and will take confidence from recent interstate victories over Brisbane and the Giants.
MATCH PREVIEW West Coast v Essendon
Essendon has lost seven straight games in the west, but Worsfold wasn't reading too much into past history because he wants to "sleep at night".
While the Bombers went down to Fremantle in round two at Optus Stadium, the coach was confident his side – which has won three of its past four – was much improved since then.
"We were pretty poor for a couple of weeks in a row there (early in the season)," Worsfold said.
"But that was a lot of teething problems in our understanding of each other and how we want to play.
"We've ironed out a fair degree of that and we're getting a lot better chemistry amongst the group.
"We expect we're a lot better prepared, regardless of the ground, but more so as a team."
"In my history of travelling, and I've done a little bit of it, the biggest factor to how you travel is how good a team you are."
Worsfold said the Bombers have become a more cohesive unit after having half a season to get a feel for how recruits Adam Saad, Devon Smith and Jake Stringer played.
Essendon has also become much tougher to score against.
After conceding triple figures four times in the opening six rounds, the Dons have held Geelong, the Giants and Lions to 50, 60 and 62 points respectively in the past month.
A blowout loss to Richmond when they coughed up 114 points was the only aberration.
The Bombers will look at the Eagles' squad and likely forward setup before deciding their defensive line-up but Worsfold didn't expect it would significantly alter their plans.
"They play a brand of footy that we're pretty conscious of. You wouldn't expect they'll go too far away from that. It will (just) be a different person playing those roles," he said.
Worsfold deflected a question whether it was a good time to face the Eagles without their leading goalkickers, pointing to his side's injury woes with David Zaharakis (shoulder), Darcy Parish (thumb) and Joe Daniher (groin) missing.
Skipper Dyson Heppell has been cleared of concussion while Smith has overcome a sore calf.
Worsfold, who captained the Eagles to two flags and coached the 2006 premiership side, denied there was any emotion involved plotting against West Coast for the third time in charge of the Dons.
"It's all business, absolutely," he said.
He has a 1-1 record against the Eagles and needs an upset win to keep the Bombers' (5-7) fading finals hopes alive, but wasn't buying into talk about West Coast's home-ground free-kick advantage and the so-called "noise of affirmation".
The Eagles hold a 150-101 count in free-kicks at Optus Stadium this year, excluding the Western Derby against Fremantle.
Three of the umpires on Thursday night will be West Australians, not that Worsfold was bothered.
"I haven't really thought about it. We have faith the umpires will do the best job they can."
