Essendon have just six days to prepare for one of the toughest assignments in football – beating Fremantle in Perth.

The Dockers have been in red-hot early season form. 

They are undefeated and sitting on top of the ladder with a percentage of 151.

“They’re at the top of their game.  They’re the benchmark right at the moment,” Essendon defender Michael Hibberd said. 

The Bombers lost the contested ball count (144-133) in the side’s two point win against St Kilda on Sunday.

It’s an area Essendon has already identified as crucial to competing with the Dockers.

“They’ve got a good midfield.  Fyfe, Mundy, Barlow – three big bodies in the midfield that are really good in the contested area of the game. 

“If we can match it in that area it will go a long way to having a good performance,” Hibberd said. 

Essendon famously beat Fremantle in Perth in 2013 but it was a different story last year when the Bombers were comprehensively outplayed, resulting in a 53 point loss. 

Hibberd is hoping Essendon’s large West Australian fan base will get behind the club as they try to cause an upset. 

“We’ve got a good supporter base over in Fremantle so hopefully they rock up and give us a bit of support,” he said.

Dustin Fletcher knows better than most how difficult trips to Perth are.

He reaches another milestone on Thursday when he turns 40.

“He’s a real key down back for us.  40 years old and still playing AFL footy … it’s unbelievable,” Hibberd said.

Fletcher will become just the second man in his 40’s to play at the game’s highest level.