ESSENDON captain Zach Merrett has dominated in a 39-point thrashing of Melbourne that plunges the winless Demons further into the mire.
Skipper Merrett was best-afield with 38 disposals in the Bombers' 15.6 (96) to 8.9 (57) win in Saturday night's Gather Round game at Adelaide Oval.
Merrett, Dylan Shiel (30 touches) and Jye Menzie, who kicked four goals, were instrumental in Essendon squaring their win-loss ledger at 2-2.
DEMONS v BOMBERS Full match coverage and stats
But Simon Goodwin's Demons sink to 0-5 and 17th spot, above only West Coast.
Melbourne produced a third-term rally before a crowd of 45,039.
But the damage had been done: the Demons were within six points early in the second term before Essendon kicked the next five goals for a 35-point lead in the third quarter.
Just when the Demons appeared down and out, they suddenly - and unexpectedly - turned the tide with four consecutive goals in a 15-minute burst.
Bayley Fritsch score twice and Kozzy Pickett added his second as Melbourne drew within 11 points.
The Demons were 10 down when busy Bomber Nic Martin goaled in the 32nd minute, giving his side a 16-point cushion at three quarter-time.
Essendon goalsneak Jade Gresham snapped a major early in the last term to further settle the Demons' fate.
Melbourne will lament their lacklustre start - they trailed by 12 points at quarter-time and then allowed Essendon to produce a telling quarter-hour.
The Bombers scored four consecutive goals in a batch bookended by the influential Menzie, whose third goal created a 30-point break.
At that stage Melbourne, renowned in recent years for a misfiring forward line, led the inside 50 count 25-22 but had scored just 2.4.
Essendon's 7.4 to 2.5 half-time lead was soon increased by an Archie Perkins strike and Brad Scott's team appeared safe at 35 points up.
The Demons slotted four goals in their unheralded 15 minutes, but their best period was too brief to overpower the Bombers.
Melbourne's vaunted on-ball brigade had its collective colours lowered, with Merrett, Shiel, Ben Hobbs (20, two goals), Andrew McGrath (26 possessions) and Nic Martin (28, one goal) all shining.
Demons winger Ed Langdon was a standout with 25 touches and a goal while big guns Pickett (23, two goals), Christian Petracca (27 possessions) and Clayton Oliver (24) all had impact.
Shiel starting to shine again
After handing GWS two first round selections in exchange for Dylan Shiel in 2018, Essendon was rewarded with a cracking first season from the midfielder, before injury and form saw his output dip sharply over the next five years. However, he came out on fire on Saturday night with 20 first-half possessions and finished with 30 for the match. Now, at the ripe old age of 32, Shiel is back to his best and could prove a key cog if the Bombers are to find finals success this season.
MELBOURNE 1.4 2.5 7.7 8.9 (57)
ESSENDON 3.4 7.4 10.5 15.6 (96)
GOALS
Melbourne: Pickett 2, Fritsch 2, Sparrow, Sharp, Petty, Langdon
Essendon: Menzie 4, Hobbs 2, Caddy 2, Shiel, Perkins, Martin, Jones, Gresham, Duursma, Redman
BEST
Melbourne: Gawn, Pickett, Petracca, Langdon, Bowey
Essendon: Merrett, Martin, Menzie, Ridley, Durham, Shiel
INJURIES
Melbourne: TBC
Essendon: Bryan (knee)
SUBSTITUTES
Melbourne: Harry Sharp, replaced Jack Henderson in the third quarter
Essendon: Saad El-Hawli, replaced Nick Bryan in the first quarter
Crowd: 45,039 at Adelaide Oval
