Robert Shaw says the Bombers impressive showing against the Giants was built on defensive pressure.

The Dons pushed the top-four fancy all the way, before the visitors secured the win deep into the last quarter.

Essendon laid 71 tackles and restricted the Giants to just nine marks inside 50. 

At the other end, the Bombers took 16 marks inside 50 and generated 36 shots at goal from 56 entries. 

“It was an excellent performance,” Shaw said.

“This was built on really strong defence, really good tackling.

“For a four quarter performance of balanced football – between attack and defence – I thought it was our best performance of the year. 

“That style of play would stand up to anyone. 

“Essendon would be in the game against any side with that balance of ball movement, direct football and our tackling pressure was supurb.”

The Bombers have averaged 393 possessions per game this season.

The side recorded 346 against the Giants, with more aggressive ball movement through the middle of the ground a noticeable feature.

Orazio Fantasia was one of the chief beneficiaries of the slick ball use, with the small forward kicking four goals.

“They played the ground very well and it was complemented by a very multi dimensional forward line,” Shaw said.

“It was really interesting how they used him (Fantasia) out of the goal square – he technically played full-forward.

“Then you had the big blokes, you had Joe Daniher on the move, Brown is always a constant threat because of his mobility.

“The entries were really complemented by the different dimensions that our forward line brought.” 

Shaw said fitness was the difference in the end.

“They’re a very young, potent running side.  I just think we ran out of legs in the last 15 minutes,” Shaw said.

“Fatigue brings about errors.  The most errors we made throughout the day were in the last 20 minutes.”