Essendon defender Michael Hibberd believes his side needs to regain its flair in order to turn around its recent disappointing form.

The Bombers head into the bye with four wins and five losses from its first nine matches of the season with two of those wins by less than ten points.

Hibberd said it was important there was a focus on not being afraid to play an attacking style of football.

“I think the focus over the next few weeks will be on stopping being safe with the ball and going back to what we were doing the first few weeks,” Hibberd said.

“We will open up teams with some run and carry if we do hit up those kicks through the middle of the ground.

“The way we moved the ball in the first couple of games against North Melbourne and Hawthorn we were really quick and instinctive.

“We weren’t afraid to take those quick kicks and spot a player up in the corridor but now we are a bit intimidated.”

Hibberd was one of the standouts in Friday night’s loss to the Swans as he collected a career high 32 disposals.

“After quarter time we played a lot better and moved the ball a lot better,” he said post game.

“We decided lets take them on and try and open them up by trying to take the ball through the corridor as it is the quickest way to goal.”

The dashing defender said it was important his side worked out the balance of when to take the game on if it was return to its form shown early in the season.

“We want to control the ball at certain times of the game and then there is other times when it opens up that we want to take it on and get the ball in as quick as we can.”

“We have to read the game as players and be able to hold the ball if they are on top of us."