Essendon registered its biggest score of the season in the win over Brisbane but once again much of the attack stemmed from the excellence in the backline.

A now familiar back six was able to again restrict the opposition to less than 80 points.

Central to that was Michael Hibberd.

The former Frankson player collected 26 possessions, kicked a goal and was often the linkman as the Bombers brought the ball out of the defensive end.

“It’s something I’ve focused on a little bit more for the last month,” Hibberd said.

“Getting involved in attack obviously drives from my defence first.

“We moved it quick and that gave the guys some good opportunities to score.”

It wasn’t all one-way traffic for the Dons.

At half time, Essendon held a five-point advantage.

Hibberd said the message from the coaches at the break was to increase the pressure on the opposition’s ball movement.

“It was more getting back to defence,” he said.

“Defending the ground well and putting pressure on them and our ball movement came from there.”

Essendon now has four wins and four losses from the first eight games of the season.

The side faces another difficult challenge against Richmond this week.

The annual Dreamtime clash is also set to be Dustin Fletcher’s 400^th game for the club.

“If we can get another win… that will put us in a good spot in the middle part of the season,” Hibberd said. 

“To get all the fans there would be nice.”