For the second straight week, Essendon has defeated a top four fancy to have the Bombers knocking on the door of the top eight.

After a fast start set up victory against Geelong last week, the Dons were again fast out of the blocks against West Coast.

A five goal to two opening term laid the platform but the Bombers didn’t stop there kicking 14 goals to six in the final three quarters.

“In the previous games, while we’ve played really well at stages, we’ve always had that drop off,” Essendon defender Matt Dea said.

“That being said we did have a drop off [today] but we didn’t get scored against too heavily … they had the momentum but we were really able to bunker down and shut it down for a while and wrestle momentum back.

“We don’t want to fluctuate too much between weeks … we turn up and play our way, that’s really important to us.

“Being able to do that at a higher standard for a longer period of time – that’s our focus and we’re making inroads with that at the minute.”

Dea was part of a defensive unit that restricted the Eagles to just eight goals from 48 forward 50 entries.

Conversely the Bombers kicked 19 goals from 49 forward 50 entries.

“Having never played with ‘Hurls’ before he’s an absolute star … just being able to watch him in action is terrific,” Dea said.

“I played a lot of footy with ‘Harts’ last year and I think today was the best game he's played. He really shut [Josh] Kennedy out.

“Baggers is hard at it as always so I’m really loving playing with all of the guys in the backline.”

Dea collected 15 possessions in the back half and also drifted forward to kick his first goal since joining the Bomber and just the second of his career.

“I haven’t kicked one for the red and black before so I was pretty pumped, it doesn’t happen too often so I’ve got to make the most of it.”