As the competition's highest-scoring team, Essendon has found a number of avenues to goal in season 2011.

There is Stewart Crameri, who coach James Hird refers to as this year's Michael Barlow, and Kyle Reimers, who kicked eight goals in a round six thrashing of Gold Coast.

David Hille, free from shouldering the bulk of Essendon's ruck duties thanks to the good form of Tom Bellchambers and Patrick Ryder, spent most of Saturday night's win against the Brisbane Lions up forward, where he kicked two goals.

However, Essendon's forward line barometer is David Zaharakis – when he is hot the Bombers fly.

At half-time in the Lions' match, Zaharakis had five touches, no goals and the Bombers were behind by a point.

After a blistering second half, Zaharakis was one of the best afield, with 25 disposals and four goals, and Essendon was a 36-point winner.

He kicked the Bombers' first goal for the third quarter and had another not long after to get the team rolling.

He did the same thing in the final term, kicking the first goal of the quarter and later booting his fourth for the night to immediately answer a Jed Adcock goal and snuff out any hope of a Lions comeback.

""Zaharakis, after half-time, was terrific,"" Hird said.

The goal sneak's prowess around the big sticks was no revelation after this game – he has kicked 41 goals in 38 matches in his career.