Essendon kicked the final two goals of the third quarter to bring some respectability to the scoreboard after West Coast dominated with eight unanswered goals including the first five goals of the third quarter.
The margin is 41 points but the Bombers could have easily been further behind as the Eagles took full control with Harley Reid, Tim Kelly, Liam Baker and Willem Duursma outstanding in the middle and Jake Waterman dominating inside 50.
Bombers and Eagles face off in Perth. Getty Images
They had the wind and made the most of it. Ben McKay broke the run of goals with his first major as an Essendon player after playing up forward.
It’s too big a lead for Essendon to run down but they have a chance to reduce the margin.