Geelong has handed Essendon a football lesson about playing with dare and dash in a dominant 69-point win at Etihad Stadium, with the Cats reviving their stuttering season and dealing a crushing blow to the Bombers' finals aspirations on Saturday night.
After a heavy loss to West Coast in Perth last round, the Cats (5-5) again made a mockery of critics daring to write them off from the finals race by bouncing back in ruthless fashion against the listless Dons.
James Hird said his side's season was at the crossroads before the match, and after four losses in five games the Bombers have some serious soul-searching to do to stop their campaign sliding into the abyss at 4-6.
The teams have now swapped rungs on the ladder, with Essendon tumbling from 10th to 12th, while a healthy percentage boost lifted Geelong above the Dons.
The Cats dominated from the outset of the 19.8 (122) to 7.11 (53) triumph, setting up the win with a nine-goal to nil first half.
It was the first time Essendon has been held goalless before half-time since round 17, 1984 – a premiership year – but this current outfit looks miles away, impotent in attack and struggling to match it with genuine finals contenders.
Under the closed roof, the Dons became just the second team not to kick a first half goal at Etihad Stadium in 723 AFL games, and were booed from the field by their own supporters at half-time. It was their lowest score at the long break since round 3, 1968.
They finally got on the board two minutes after the restart via Brent Stanton, but any thought of a comeback was expunged from the next centre bounce when the impressive Josh Caddy kicked truly from 55m.
Caddy (20 disposals, two goals), swingman Harry Taylor (33, 10 marks), James Kelly (28) and Darcy Lang (22) were superb for the Cats.
Spearhead Tom Hawkins bagged four goals – including the 300th of his career just before half-time – in an even battle with Cale Hooker, while Steven Motlop and Steve Johnson also booted four majors.
Essendon sorely missed injured pair Jobe Watson's leadership and Dustin Fletcher's experience, with Hooker, fellow defender Michael Hurley and eighth-gamer Elliott Kavanagh (25 disposals) standing up on a dirty night.
The Bombers' only win in the past month came against lowly Brisbane Lions, and they succumbed to Geelong for the 11th time in 13 meetings stretching back to 2005.
The writing was on the wall early for the Dons when young spearhead Joe Daniher missed four set shots in the opening 20 minutes.
It followed Jake Carlisle's struggles in front of goal last week and spelt the end of Essendon's brief flurry, with the Cats doing as they pleased thereafter.
Star underage basketballer Michael Luxford was a late inclusion for his first run in the big time, although his first kick was memorable for the wrong reasons when it sailed out on the full in a rare example of wastefulness.
Both teams had injury concerns, with under pressure Bombers ruckman Tom Bellchambers, whose right shin was heavily strapped all match, subbed out at half-time for ex-Cat Paul Chapman.
Geelong big man Shane Kersten was also handed the red vest at the main break due to an apparent hamstring injury.
ESSENDON 0.5 0.6 3.9 7.11 (53)
GEELONG 3.1 9.5 15.6 19.8 (122)
BEST
Essendon: Hooker, Hurley, Kavanagh
Geelong: Taylor, Caddy, Kelly, Lang, Enright, Rivers, Lonergan
INJURIES
Essendon: Nil
Geelong: Shane Kersten (hamstring)
SUBSTITUTES
Essendon: Paul Chapman replaced Tom Bellchambers at half-time
Geelong: Michael Luxford replaced Shane Kersten at half-time
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Foot, Meredith, Ryan
Official crowd: 40,632 at Etihad Stadium