The Bombers started with Shaun McKernan, Jobe Watson, Zach Merrett and David Zaharakis in the middle of the ground for the centre bounce.  Brent Stanton and Darcy Parish were on the wings.

Andrew McGrath, Brendon Goddard, Patrick Ambrose, Michael Hurley, Mitch Brown and Mark Baguley lined up in defence.

James Stewart, Josh Begley, Orazio Fantasia, Travis Colyer, Jayden Laverde and Joe Daniher were in the forward 50.

Geelong opened the second half with three goals in three minutes (including one super goal) to bring the margin back to 18 points.

Essendon sent Joe Daniher in to the backline for about five minutes as a loose man in an attempt to stem the tide.

The margin was further cut to 11 points before a goal to Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, his fourth of the match, steadied the ship, albeit briefly, for the Bombers.

The Cats continued their surge though on the back of nine possessions, three inside 50's and five score involvements to Joel Selwood in the first 15 minutes of the third quarter.

Brendon Goddard spent periods of the quarter as a loose man in defence.

Geelong hit the front late in the term and took a seven point advantage into the last quarter.

Shaun McKernan continued his excellent form in the second half.  He took the ball cleanly out of the ruck in the goal square to reduce the margin to one point ten minutes into the last term.  He had 15 contested possessions, eight clearances and six score involvements by midway through the last quarter.

Essendon committed 31 unforced turnovers in the second half, allowing Geelong to kick away to a 22-point win.