Essendon’s VFL coaches say the effort was there but not the execution in Sunday’s 31-point loss to the previously winless Coburg.

The Bombers led at three-quarter time but an eight goal to two final term from the home side saw them run out victors 16.7 (103) to Essendon’s 11.6 (72).

The loss was further soured by a knee injury to key player James Ferry who took no further part in the game after going down early in the first term.

The match was tight on the scoreboard for the duration of the contest, with the Bombers 12-point lead late in the second term the biggest of the game until the Lions kicked away late.

Yestin Eades was among the best players showcasing his blistering speed and kicking his sides only major of the opening quarter as they trailed by 10 points at the first change.

The Bombers looked to have clicked into gear early in the second with goals from Daniel Coghlan, Benjamin Dobson and Bruno Laguda all coming inside three minutes to gain the lead.

Daniel Younan responded for the Lions but goals from Sam Grimley and the returning Jordan Schroder opened up that 12-point lead before three late majors from the home side gave them a six-point lead at half time.

Coburg could only manage one goal in the third term, with the Bombers regaining the lead with goals to Jack Langford, Will Hams and Grimley.

Essendon were denied a certain goal with the three quarter-time siren sounding as a handball from Nick Kommer sailed to an awaiting Eades open in the goal square, keeping the Bombers lead to one straight kick.

After losing four of their five matches this season by 10 points or less, the Lions were desperate to register their first win and rose occasion to the occasion to run away with the win.

Essendon assistant coach Paul Corrigan said disappointment was the overriding feeling following the game.

“Coburg played really well, we almost looked a bit sluggish at times and allowed them to play how they wanted to,” Corrigan said.

“For our learning it’s just a mindset thing, especially coming up against teams like Coburg that may be zero and five but still have that competitive edge – you have to bring that competitiveness for 120 minutes of the game.

“They hunted the ball better than us, they outnumbered us around the contest and in the end they just wanted the ball. We put ourselves under pressure and they kicked the goals when they needed to.

“I thought our effort was there but just our execution at times let us down.”

Shaun Edwards led the way for the Bombers with 28 disposals.

“I thought Shaun Edwards on the wing played his role and up forward Yestin Eades (14 touches, two goals) tried all day - his speed and attack around the contest was really good,” Corrigan said.

“Mark Jamar (18 disposals) in the ruck up until three quarter-time was quite dominant and our inside midfielders in Coghlan (20 touches) and Hams (23) tried all day as well.”

Aaron Heppell was solid in the back half with 25 touches, Martin Gleeson rebounded well from half back with 23, Jackson Merrett had 23 and Alex Morgan looked much improved in his second outing with 22 disposals.

Despite the loss, Corrigan believes there are positives to take away from the game.

“We hadn’t played great footy - we had played patches of ok footy until three-quarter time and the game was still in the balance,” he said.

“You can take certain aspects from it, at times we looked good when we were strong around the stoppages, winning clearances and being direct with the ball, but there were just too many inconsistencies across the game.

“Teams are going to challenge us, but we have to trust that if we play the way we want to play that it might have been a different story today.”

Grimley finished with three goals.

Ferry returned to the bench following scans to his knee, but the extent of the injury is yet to be determined.