The Bombers' 2011 season has come to an end, after going down to a powerful Carlton side by 62 points at the MCG in an elimination final on Sunday afternoon.
The Bombers took the momentum from their one-point lead early in the first quarter and capitalised with goals to Kyle Reimers and Angus Monfries. But the Blues hit back by kicking the final five goals of the quarter.
Carlton used its lightning pace to overcome Essendon's resistance, piling on 10 consecutive goals between the 20-minute mark of the first term and the 29-minute mark of the second.
The early loss of Tayte Pears (hamstring) at the quarter time mark saw young utility Jake Carlisle move into defence and speedy forward Travis Colyer took on the challenge of Gibbs.
But, after winning the clearances in the first quarter, the Bombers fell away after the first change and were smashed in close with the Blues amassing 52 contested possessions to their 31.
Blues skipper Chris Judd started to get going after Bomber Heath Hocking kept him to two touches in the first, but it was Marc Murphy who was the real instigator with 10 possessions and a late goal.
Ahead by 41 points at half-time, the Blues then cantered to victory (they led by as much as 79 points during the final quarter).
Speedy small forward Eddie Betts and Jeff Garlett booted seven goals between them, while midfielder Bryce Gibbs and Andrew Walker kicked three each.
However, Gibbs left the field during the last quarter having suffered a suspected shoulder injury.
In its first final since it lost to Adelaide by 96 points in 2009, Essendon was unlucky to lose key defender Pears to a leg injury in the first quarter.
But the Bombers, who finish their 2011 campaign in eighth place, were outplayed for most of the afternoon.
Essendon has not won a final since it beat Melbourne by five points in an elimination final in 2004.
Thornton took his fourth contested mark for the afternoon in the opening minutes and kicked the Blues' 11th goal, but this time the Bombers were able to quickly answer with Brent Stanton responding within a minute with his first of two for the quarter.
However, it was more of the same after the teams settled, with the Blues nailing four of the next five goals. Colyer found the big sticks at the 19-minute mark, and when David Hille followed up seven minutes later, but it was just the second time for the game that the Bombers had kicked consecutive goals.
Angus Monfries was their leading scorer with three goals, while Kyle Reimers, David Hille and Brent Stanton kicked two.
Carlton 4.5 10.12 17.17 21.23 (149)
Essendon 3.4 4.7 8.9 13.9 (87)
GOALS
Carlton: Betts 4, Garlett 3, Gibbs 3, Walker 3, Thornton 2, O'hAilpin, Robinson, Murphy, Simpson, Judd, Carrazzo
Essendon: Monfries 3, Stanton 2, Hille 2, Reimers 2, Carlisle, Colyer, Hocking, Jetta
BEST
Carlton: Murphy, Warnock, Carrazzo, Yarran, Betts, Scotland, Garlett, Henderson
Essendon: Hocking, Stanton, Myers, Lovett-Murray, Monfries
INJURIES
Carlton: Gibbs (shoulder)
Essendon: Pears (hamstring), Fletcher (concussion)
SUBSTITUTES
Carlton: Michael Jamison substituted out in the fourth quarter for Marcus Davies
Essendon: Tayte Pears (hamstring) substituted out at quarter time for Travis Colyer
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Rosebury, Stevic, Meredith
Official crowd: 90,161 at the MCG
