Essendon has handed the AFL's newest team Gold Coast its biggest loss yet with a 139-point demolition at Etihad Stadium.
In what was a game of boys against men, the Bombers proved too good for the Suns, overpowering them 31.11 (197) to 8.10 (58).
It was the third highest score for the Bombers with the highest 32.16 (208), recorded in round 22, 1982 against the Western Bulldogs.
It was an impressive team effort from the Bombers with 12 individual goal kickers with Kyle Reimers kicking eight, a personal best for him, and the biggest haul by a player this season.
Captain Jobe Watson was outstanding in the middle with 35 touches and nine clearances, while Ben Howlett's seven tackles and 29 disposals typified the improvement in the Bomber's defensive pressure.
The Bombers flew out of the blocks piling on 15.4 in the first quarter and re-writing the history books with the highest quarter time score and margin in AFL/VFL history.
Essendon had nine individual goal kickers in the first term with Stewart Crameri leading the way with three, while the Gold Coast could only manage just the one behind, courtesy of skipper Gary Ablett.
Previously, the highest quarter time score was 13.3 (81) shared by Hawthorn (against North Melbourne in 1982) and North Melbourne (against Richmond in 1990).
In what was a game of boys against men, the Bombers proved too good for the Suns, overpowering them 31.11 (197) to 8.10 (58).
It was the third highest score for the Bombers with the highest 32.16 (208), recorded in round 22, 1982 against the Western Bulldogs.
It was an impressive team effort from the Bombers with 12 individual goal kickers with Kyle Reimers kicking eight, a personal best for him, and the biggest haul by a player this season.
Captain Jobe Watson was outstanding in the middle with 35 touches and nine clearances, while Ben Howlett's seven tackles and 29 disposals typified the improvement in the Bomber's defensive pressure.
The Bombers flew out of the blocks piling on 15.4 in the first quarter and re-writing the history books with the highest quarter time score and margin in AFL/VFL history.
Essendon had nine individual goal kickers in the first term with Stewart Crameri leading the way with three, while the Gold Coast could only manage just the one behind, courtesy of skipper Gary Ablett.
Previously, the highest quarter time score was 13.3 (81) shared by Hawthorn (against North Melbourne in 1982) and North Melbourne (against Richmond in 1990).
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The young Suns' defence, without the experience of Nathan Bock and Campbell Brown (both suspensed), were under the pump from the first bounce with former Western Bulldog Jarrod Harbrow (74 AFL games) left to marshal the backline.
To the Suns' credit they managed to somewhat stem the onslaught from the Bombers in the second term, winning the quarter five goals to three and reducing the margin to 79 points at half time.
Michael Rischitelli, the Suns' best player in its first win last week, finally broke the drought for his side, kicking their first goal at the five minute mark of the second term.
Gold Coast also stepped up their pressure, which was non-existent in the first term, laying 32 tackles to Essendon's 10 in the second quarter with experienced hands Daniel Harris, Jared Brennan and Rischitelli leading the way.
But the Suns' second term form was short lived with the Bombers kicking seven unanswered goals in the first 20 minutes of the third term before Sam Iles strung together back-to-back goals just before three-quarter time.
The training drill continued for the Bombers in the final quarter with the young Suns run off their feet, conceding a further six goals.
Essendon 15.4 18.4 25.8 31.11 (197)
Gold Coast 0.1 5.3 7.5 8.10 (58)
GOALS
Essendon: Reimers 8, Monfries 4, Crameri 4, Ryder 3, Bellchambers 2, Lonergan 2, Zaharakis 2, Hille, Hocking, Howlett, Jetta, Stanton, Watson
Gold Coast: Iles 2, Matera 2, McKenzie, Rischitelli, Shaw, Smith
BEST
Essendon: Reimers, Howlett, Watson, Lonergan, Ryder, Stanton, Zaharakis
Gold Coast: Ablett, Brennan, Swallow, Iles, Harbrow
INJURIES
Essendon: Dustin Fletcher (soreness) replaced in selected side by Andrew Welsh, Welsh (calf tightness) replaced in selected side by Jake Melksham
Gold Coast: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Essendon: Heath Hocking replaced by Jake Melksham in the third quarter
Gold Coast: Seb Tape replaced by Liam Patrick in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Ritchie, Ryan, Nicholls
Official crowd: 33,710 at Etihad Stadium
The young Suns' defence, without the experience of Nathan Bock and Campbell Brown (both suspensed), were under the pump from the first bounce with former Western Bulldog Jarrod Harbrow (74 AFL games) left to marshal the backline.
To the Suns' credit they managed to somewhat stem the onslaught from the Bombers in the second term, winning the quarter five goals to three and reducing the margin to 79 points at half time.
Michael Rischitelli, the Suns' best player in its first win last week, finally broke the drought for his side, kicking their first goal at the five minute mark of the second term.
Gold Coast also stepped up their pressure, which was non-existent in the first term, laying 32 tackles to Essendon's 10 in the second quarter with experienced hands Daniel Harris, Jared Brennan and Rischitelli leading the way.
But the Suns' second term form was short lived with the Bombers kicking seven unanswered goals in the first 20 minutes of the third term before Sam Iles strung together back-to-back goals just before three-quarter time.
The training drill continued for the Bombers in the final quarter with the young Suns run off their feet, conceding a further six goals.
Essendon 15.4 18.4 25.8 31.11 (197)
Gold Coast 0.1 5.3 7.5 8.10 (58)
GOALS
Essendon: Reimers 8, Monfries 4, Crameri 4, Ryder 3, Bellchambers 2, Lonergan 2, Zaharakis 2, Hille, Hocking, Howlett, Jetta, Stanton, Watson
Gold Coast: Iles 2, Matera 2, McKenzie, Rischitelli, Shaw, Smith
BEST
Essendon: Reimers, Howlett, Watson, Lonergan, Ryder, Stanton, Zaharakis
Gold Coast: Ablett, Brennan, Swallow, Iles, Harbrow
INJURIES
Essendon: Dustin Fletcher (soreness) replaced in selected side by Andrew Welsh, Welsh (calf tightness) replaced in selected side by Jake Melksham
Gold Coast: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Essendon: Heath Hocking replaced by Jake Melksham in the third quarter
Gold Coast: Seb Tape replaced by Liam Patrick in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Ritchie, Ryan, Nicholls
Official crowd: 33,710 at Etihad Stadium
