After what was almost a Saturday night stroll around the MCG, Essendon coach James Hird is now looking forward to the most serious test of his side’s flying start to the AFL season.

The Bombers go from destroying inept Melbourne by 148 points into a top of the table clash with unbeaten Fremantle at Patersons Stadium on Friday night – both teams 2-0 and looking to fully test their finals credentials.

Hird was thrilled with how his side kept the pedal down for four quarters despite having their match against Melbourne wrapped up by halftime.

He says the Bombers appear to have finally sorted out the defensive issues which had plagued them in his previous two years at the club – borne out by conceding just 1.1 in the second half of their 28.16 (184) to 5.6 (36) rout of the Demons.

“Thirty-six points against is a good result for us. We have been doing a lot of work on the tackling,” Hird said.

“We want to play a certain way, against any opposition.

“The way we play is very important to us, and we played the game the way we wanted to play.”

Now the Bombers will be tested against Fremantle coach Ross Lyon’s trademark stoic defence, which he has allied to a group of damaging flair players like Matthew Pavlich and Nat Fyfe at the Dockers.

“They’re on top of their game, play a really defensive style of football but also have terrific talent and they’re able to score as well,” Hird said of Fremantle.

“We’ve worked very hard to improve that – that wherever we’re playing, whoever we’re playing, we play to a certain standard.

“Going to Freo to play Freo in the form they’re in is as tough a task as you’ll get. It’s going to be a big game.”

Essendon’s main fitness query is forward Stewart Crameri, who booted six goals against Melbourne but suffered a “pinch” in his knee which led to sitting out most of the final quarter.