Essendon has tonight extended their winning streak to four as they accounted for the Brisbane Lions by 37-points at the Dome.

Essendon assistant coach, Adrian Hickmott, said it was particularly good to see the side hold the Lions when they continued to come at the Bombers in the second half.

“The most pleasing thing was that we stuck it out, Brisbane came back at us a couple of times, they were even up by four points at one stage and just to keep doing the basics of the game held us in good stead for a great win at the end of the day,” Hickmott said.

“This week they came at us and we were able to get back in control of the game through hard work and commitment to our game plan.

“It was great to see Laycock jump at the ball like he knows how to and show a bit of aggression out there and Lonergan came back after he got a big hit and had an impact.
 
""Welsh inside was fantastic and then received a lot of the football outside as well and Stanton ran all day so pretty well overall it was great.""
 
In an impressive opening term, Essendon were able to set the tone early with consistent tackling pressure, first from Andrew Welsh and Andrew Lovett and then from Scott Lucas resulting in a goal to the big forward. Jobe Watson and Jay Neagle both kicked snap goals and Essendon looked in control.
 
Leroy Jetta provided the highlight of the first quarter using his pace to lose his opponent, take a bounce and kick truly on the run putting the Bombers up by 20-points midway through the first quarter.
David Hille and the Essendon onballers combined well to win the majority of the centre clearances and when Hille had a hand in Lucas’ second with two hard bumps on the wing, Essendon’s lead was out to over four goals.
 
Hille is having a great season and tonight was no exception, impressing Hickmott with his hardness.
 
“I thought Hille was good again in the ruck, a couple of those hard hits out on the wing he did just set the standard,” Hickmott said.

Jay Nash booted the Bombers' eighth for the term with a long goal from well outside 50 but a late goal to Brown reduced the margin to 27-points at the first change.

Brisbane began to get more of the ball in the second term and after booting the first two of the quarter were back within 13-points. A Lucas steadier eased the pressure but not for long as Brown replied shortly after. Daniel Bradshaw goaled to reduce the margin to 10-points but another Essendon centre clearance and a strong mark and goal from Matthew Lloyd restored the lead to 16-points.

Watson was having a major impact at stoppages in the middle and around the ground with six clearances for the quarter. Late goals to Jetta and Lucas sent the Bombers in at half-time with a 26-point advantage. Andrew Welsh continued his good form gathering over 30 possessions for the game and winning plenty of contested footy.

Brisbane started the second half better with goals to Bradshaw, Jarred Brennan, Simon Black and Brown and Essendon found themselves hanging on to a two-point lead. Rischitelli put the Lions in front when he scored from a quick kick out of a pack but Jetta got Essendon’s first for the quarter and put the Bombers back in front with a trademark roving snap from close range.

Lloyd took up the challenge from Jetta for goal of the day as he dribbled the ball through with his non-preferred right foot from the boundary. Sam Lonergan, who earlier in the quarter was taken off after strong hit to the head, came on to kick two very important goals to put the Bombers up by 21-points.

Monfries marked and made a difficult shot from deep in the pocket look easy, running around and snapping for his first goal for the night. Brown kicked his fourth to get the margin under four goals, Essendon leading by 19-points at the final break.

Lucas kicked the all important first goal of the final quarter, his fifth for the game after some hard running from Kyle Reimers. Brown followed suit soon after booting his fifth but a running goal from midfielder Mark McVeigh took the Essendon lead back out to 26-points. Lloyd converted after earning a 50 metre penalty and the margin was beyond five goals, two quick goals to Brennan brought the Lions to within striking distance but when Lloyd kicked his fourth, the game looked to be won.

Another Brennan goal did nothing to slow the Bombers in the run home and they eventually kicked away to win by over six goals.