Despite getting off to a slow start, the Bombers showed tremendous spirit in the second and third quarters to take a 10-point lead into the final break. However hamstring injuries late in the game to Mark McVeigh and Sam Lonergan curtailed the Bombers' run and the Bulldogs went on to win by 30-points.

“We paid the price for a lazy first quarter,” Prescott said. “Because we allowed them five goals to one, we were always chasing their tails.

“To the boys’ credit, they dug deep and really ran the game out. In the last quarter, we lost a couple of players and that affected our rotations and playing two men down becomes really, really difficult.

“I reckon the supporters and definitely the coaches, whilst we are disappointed with the final result, we are pretty proud with the way they ran the game out.”

The early signs looked ominous for the Bombers as they struggled to contain their opponents who moved the ball forward with ease. The Bulldogs however didn't make the most of their opportunities and despite looking flat footed, Essendon was still in the game. 

Dustin Fletcher was outstanding in defence early finishing the quarter with 10 possessions. He was aided by Patrick Ryder’s unrelenting efforts to curb the Bulldog’s influence, however the Bombers needed to shut down the opposition’s game in the centre if they were to have any chance of turning around the 26-point deficit heading into the second term.

Led by Mark McVeigh, David Hille and Fletcher, the Bombers found some momentum in the second quarter, and started playing accountable football which ultimately resulted in the side stringing some goals together. Tatye Pears competed well in his first outing at senior level, showing glimpses that he may be making regular appearances in the near future.

With six minutes remaining on the clock, Essendon had pegged the lead back to one-goal. However the Bulldogs were not keen to undo all their good early work, and returned fire through Jarrad Harbrow, Adam Cooney and Scott Welsh to stretch their lead back out to 17 points heading into the long break.

Dominating in the centre of the ground, Hille’s form inspired his teammates as he set the play in motion in Essendon’s favour, while also providing support up forward.

In the absence of his two spearheads in Matthew Lloyd and Scott Lucas, Matthew Knights tried something different in the goal square, setting up McVeigh in the full-forward position. It was a move that paid dividends as he kicked two goals from three opportunities.

But the goal blitz didn’t stop there. Once the majors started flowing, everyone wanted a piece of the action with Kyle Reimers, Nathan Lovett-Murray and Alwyn Davey all adding their names to the stats sheet.

Impressive play by Davey, who finished off a thrilling run and carry from centre-wing with a goal, and high-flying marks by Ryder, set the tone for the Bombers’ as they continued to build on their earlier momentum. They headed into the final quarter of football with a 10-point lead.

Their high hopes were quickly dashed when Sam Lonergan and McVeigh limped to the boundary line with hamstring injuries and suddenly the odds were against the Bombers.

Things continued to unravel as an undermanned Essendon line-up struggled to match the leg speed of the Bulldogs, as ball movement swayed from one end of the ground to the other.

Despite pushing to get every inch out of their weary bodies, the Bombers did not have the legs to match it with the Bulldogs who finally put their seal on the game.

Regardless of the final result, Prescott was pleased with the courage shown by Essendon, in particular Fletcher.