Essendon was left to rue costly turnovers in its final NAB Challenge match before the start of the home and away season.

The Bombers went down by 105 points to West Coast with the Eagles making the Dons pay for not maintaining possession.

“It was just our turnovers that killed us,” Essendon defender Orazio Fantasia said.

“You saw when we moved the ball fast and went through the middle we were really dangerous and could get the ball out the back.

“But when we turned it over we just weren’t in positions to set up and they just got us out the back.

“They were a bit more silky than us and went forward and kicked a lot of goals, so that was probably the main thing.”

The temperature soared in to the high 30’s for the second week in a row for the Bombers, but Fantasia said the tough conditions didn’t play a part in the result.

“I didn’t think it was too much of an issue,” he said.

“We’ve trained in some hot conditions especially as a development group.

“We went up to Darwin and that was bloody hot, so (today) wasn’t too bad.”

Fantasia is entering his third season on the Essendon list and was one of the Bombers shining lights towards the end of 2015.

He picked up the Rising Star nomination for his round 23 performance against Collingwood, giving him a boost throughout the summer.

“I feel like I’ve continued that form in to my pre-season,” Fantasia said.

“For the first time I’ve completed a full pre-season and I’m on top of my groins which is the thing that has held me back.

“I think I can take it to the next level.”

Fantasia picked up 16 possessions in the Bombers loss to the Eagles.

The side begins its 2016 season against Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium on Saturday March 26^th.