Essendon coach James Hird says his team’s AFL bye came at the perfect time, claiming his charges are now refreshed both physically and mentally as they aim to snap a two-game losing streak.
The Bombers slipped from equal first to sixth on the table following losses to Melbourne and Sydney, but Hird was confident his team would bounce back to form in Saturday night’s clash with Fremantle at Patersons Stadium.
“Certain teams have had certain patches through the year where they’ve been up and down. We’re hoping it was a bit of an off patch for us,” Hird said in Perth on Friday.
“Physically and mentally we needed a rest, and we got that.
“We’re confident we’ve got the players in the team to keep going through the year, but time will tell whether that’s correct.”
The Bombers have lost 11 of their past 12 matches in Perth, but Hird denied Patersons Stadium had become a bogey venue for his side.