Missed opportunities in front of goal has cost the Bombers in their round three loss to Werribee.
The Dons fell 9.20.74 to Werribee's 14.13.97.
Craig Bird (28 disposals), David Myers (26) and Kobe Mutch (23) won plenty of the ball, while James Peters, Shaun McKernan and Myers each kicked two goals.
Performance Coach Dan Jordan says the effort of the Essendon players was evident but the execution of skills was poor.
“It was a frustrating day,” Jordan said.
“We were trying to play the right way and put some pressure on the ball but we weren’t clean and our execution particularly in front of goals and entering into our forward 50 were some areas we need to work on at training.
“The effort and the intensity was there but we couldn’t execute it in the way we wanted to.
"We aren’t too far away if we can get that right… probably with some goal kicking thrown in I’d imagine."
Essendon managed to keep the ball inside their forward 50 for majority of the game but inaccuracy in front of goals let them down.
With a goal on the quarter time siren to James Peters, Essendon went into the first break with a four-point lead.
With two quick goals from Werribee at the start of the second term, they took the lead and held it for the remainder of the game.
Despite the result, Alex Boyse was able to back up his excellent performance from last week.
He finished with 18 disposals, eight marks, five tackles and one goal.
Boyse, Myers (26 disposals, five marks and six tackles) and ruckman Sam Draper were among Jordan's standouts.
“I thought Alex Boyse up forward gave us a really good target all day and worked his backside off,” Jordan said.
“David Myers again was good and gave us some really good grunt work.
“Young Draper in the ruck against a really big opponent acquitted himself really well."
Essendon started the last term with a goal from Peters but it wasn’t enough to stop Werribee, who extended its lead to 23-points by the final siren.
Disposals: Bird 28, Myers 26, O’Brien 26, Mutch 23
Goals: Peters 2, McKernan 2, Stewart 2, Bird, Boyse, Younan
