ESSENDON coach James Hird says his men are physically and mentally refreshed and are ready to fix their goalkicking yips in Saturday night's crunch clash with Fremantle at Patersons Stadium.

The Bombers have kicked a wayward 160.171 this season, their scatter gun approach proving particularly costly in their recent four-point loss to the Sydney Swans.

Essendon booted 1.11 in the first half of that match but Hird was confident last week's bye had given his side enough time to address their inaccuracy woes, claiming it was more a mental issue rather than anything technically wrong.

"It's the mind," Hird said in Perth on Friday.

"We've worked a lot on our goalkicking and the boys will kick really well tomorrow, I've got no doubt they will.

"They had an off night with their goalkicking across the board (against the Swans). It wasn't just the forwards, it was everyone, and we're confident that'll change this week."

Essendon have slipped to sixth on the table following back-to-back losses and Hird said the bye had come at a perfect time.

"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.

"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."

The Bombers have lost 11 of their past 12 matches in Perth, but Hird denied Patersons Stadium had become a bogey venue.

Fremantle coach Ross Lyon has been impressed with Essendon's form despite their recent wobbles, saying their 78 inside 50's against the Swans proved just how dangerous they could be if they converted chances.

Fremantle has been hit hard by injuries with Stephen Hill (ankle), Aaron Sandilands (toe), Zac Dawson (knee) and Hayden Ballantyne (suspended) ruled out of the game.

Essendon also made four changes, but only one was forced.

Hird said the decision to replace Tom Bellchambers with fellow ruckman David Hille would give the Bombers more run and spread on the long and narrow ground.

Fremantle (6-5) is desperate to turn their home into a feared venue after posting just three wins out of six games in Perth this year.