Essendon has recalled Jackson Merrett and James Gwilt for the clash against Fremantle on Saturday night.

Dustin Fletcher will miss the match with a sore groin while Kyle Langford has been left out after playing his first match last week against St Kilda. 

“We just thought we were a bit tall last week,” Essendon Coach James Hird said.

“He (Langford) did very well, especially in the second half.  We just needed a little bit more pace in the team.”

The Bombers were soundly beaten by the Dockers last year, but won two matches in Perth in 2013.

This week they’ll confront a Fremantle on ball division boasting one of the games most in form players in Nat Fyfe. 

David Mundy, Michael Barlow and the emerging Lachie Neale round out a strong midfield contingent.

But Hird is confident the Bombers can match the top of the ladder Dockers in that area. 

“We’ve got the big bodied guys that can play in the midfield,” Coach James Hird said.

“They’re obviously playing very well the Fremantle midfield and we need to be at our best to compete in that area.”