“It was very disappointing not to get the win,” he said.
“In a sense you are proud that we were able to stick in the game and put ourselves in a winning position but we need to learn to take the opportunities when they are presented and make the most of them.
“We won the stoppage comprehensively in the first half and got the ball inside 50 but couldn’t take the marks and convert them to shots on goal.
“Richmond rebounded and got the ball into their forwards.”
Prescott refused to blame the first quarter injury to Welsh and second quarter injury to Monfries for the loss but said it did cause problems.
“When you lose player early it leaves you short and affects your rotations,” he said.
“There is no doubt we had to throw a lot of players into different positions and be creative with our rotations which gave some players some great challenges but spread the load to 19 men.
“I thought Lonergan was again extremely courageous and desperate and McPhee’s second half was good. Watson got his hands on the ball and won a lot of clearances. Stanton was solid for each quarter and Ryder tried very hard on a variety of opponents. Also I liked Mal’s game after being out for four weeks.”
Essendon had the first serious chance of the game to score but a handball from Jetta slipped through Lucas’ grasp for a point.
After a few false starts Richmond brought up their first goal through Johnson. Their second followed quickly after a strong mark to Deledio 45m out.
The Bombers hit back after Atkinson speared a pass to Lloyd who converted from a tight angle but the Tigers responded with a Morton goal.
A hard running Stanton spotted Hille in the goal square for the Bombers’ second.
For the second time in the game Jetta ran into the clear within 25m of goal and again handballed into trouble. The ball then went back the other way and Simmonds got his first.
When a dangerous Morton goaled again, and Welsh left the field after a knock to the head, the warning bells were ringing.
Watson had five clearances for the quarter and Atkinson kicked a late goal to reduce the margin to 12 points.
The second quarter started poorly for Essendon with Brown marking and spotting Bowden who converted.
Jetta snapped a nice goal under pressure before Tambling responded with his first.
Morton’s third took the margin out to 23-points.
Monfries went down with an ankle injury while Deledio went up for a big mark and then goal.
Lucas took a strong mark in the goal square to get his first but the Tigers again hit back quickly and Deledio kicked his third.
A Lucas handball to a busy Stanton brought up the Bombers next. When Stanton received a nice pass from Lloyd and kicked his second the margin was back to just 17-points.
Morton’s fourth cut short celebrations and Essendon went into the main break 24-points down.
The third quarter started with some Jetta magic - the small forward dribbling one through under pressure.
When Lonergan marked inside 50m, dodged two players and ran in to goal the margin was back to just 12-points.
The game then came alive when Reimers took the ball on the run at the 50m mark and slotted it through for his first.
Lucas marked 45m out and goaled before Slattery roved the pack near the goal square a minute later and put the Bombers five points up, their biggest lead for the game.
Then one of the highlights of the season took place when Lucas kicked the ball out of mid-air, 25m out on an angle for his second major and possibly the goal of the year – the Bombers up two goals.
A free kick to Hughes resulted in a Tiger goal and a great quarter for Essendon closed with the Bombers up by four points. Reimers, Stanton and Lovett-Murray busy for Essendon.
Bombers fans had their heart in their mouths when Laycock missed from a tight angle 10m out but he made amends minutes later when he centered the ball and Lloyd marked and goaled. Bombers up by 11-points.
Tiger players were left to run loose into their forward 50 and eventually Brown got the balled and goaled. He roved the pack one minute later to get another and Richmond had the lead by a point.
Laycock marked and goaled from 50m out to wrestle back the lead.
A poor turn-over by the Bombers as they were running toward goal saw the ball rebound quickly and end up with Simmonds who kicked his second. Richmond again in front.
Brown delivered a heavy blow when he kicked his third for the quarter to put the Tigers up nine-points.
Essendon had their chances - and had a number of good shots on goal - but squandered them and despite a thrilling last five minutes eventually went down by four points.
