The chasm between Fremantle's home form and away form was again exposed as the Dockers were overwhelmed by Essendon in tonight's AFL match at Telstra Dome.

Freo have only won three interstate games under coach Chris Connolly since he took over at the start of 2002, and were blown away in the first half in losing 17.13 (115) to 12.13 (85).

The margin was flattering to the Dockers, who rallied in the second half when the game was already effectively over and Essendon eased off.

Victory for Essendon was a timely rebound after last week's loss to Geelong, and was due in no small part to the return of captain James Hird, who was instrumental in the first-half dominance.

The Bombers will be pushing for a top-four spot at the approaching mid-season break.

The Dockers' three key faults: weakness at the contested ball, failure to score from centre bounces and the ease in which they are intimidated away from home, were all painfully obvious in the decisive first half.

From the 13-minute mark of the first quarter to halftime, the home side kicked ten goals to one to put paid to the Dockers' challenge.

The visitors' hopes were not helped by the questionable decision of playing a very small forward line.

While it worked last week as Paul Medhurst kicked nine goals, he was held goalless, and the late reversion to a tall forward line was delayed for too long.

It allowed the Bombers' backline to take defensive marks and rebound at will, and to rub salt into the Freo wounds, it was their former player Adam McPhee who was the chief link in Essendon's backline chain.

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