Coach Rodney Eade savaged the Western Bulldogs' workrate after the 55-point drubbing by Essendon, admitting he did not see it coming.

The Bulldogs started Sunday's game at Etihad Stadium well, kicking four of the first six goals, but it was one-way traffic from there as the Bombers belted the 'Dogs 16.17 (113) to 8.10 (58).

While his side was physically not as well prepared as Essendon, who made the pre-season grand final, Eade was making no excuses.

"The midfield got absolutely obliterated, I thought the defence probably held in there okay," he said.

"We just didn't win contested ball, which we've been pretty good at.

"Our standards in areas just weren't there today."

But Eade is also confident the Bulldogs, who are among the premiership favourites, can rebound quickly.

"We certainly didn't see it coming," he said.

"I'm certainly positive of the character of the guys that we'll bounce back and we need to, so back on the horse next week."

Essendon swamped the Bulldogs in the second term, kicking 6.8 to 1.1 and killing off the contest.

The Bombers were awesome around the clearances as David Hille dominated the ruck and captain Jobe Watson starred through the midfield and in attack.

"The more the game changes, the more it stays the same, doesn't it - you just have to win the footy, that's the first premise and we just didn't win enough of the ball," Eade said.

"It doesn't matter about how we used it or what decisions we made, we just didn't get enough of it.

"They out-pressured us as well, which we've worked hard on over the summer, but it just wasn't there today.

"We got out-worked, which I think is a state of mind."

The Bulldogs took a risk by playing Ben Hudson as their only specialist ruckman as they tried to adapt to the new substitute rule and it backfired, with Hille and Paddy Ryder dominant.

Asked if only having one ruckman was a mistake, Eade confessed: "yes, there's no doubt - and also our No.1 ruckman got smashed as well."

Essendon coach James Hird was full of praise for his midfield, perceived as a weakness for the Bombers, as his AFL coaching career began on a winning note.

"The way they came back and got on top in the clearances and contested footy was terrific," Hird said.

"We don't have a Chris Judd, a Gary Ablett, a Cooney ... in our midfield, but we have a group of guys who want to work hard and are desperate to learn how to be really good footballers.

"Today, they were very good."

The Bulldogs could regain defenders Brian Lake and Lindsay Gilbee for Sunday's game against Brisbane, but Easton Wood might be out of action for two months with a lower-leg injury.

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