Essendon forward Jacob Townsend's night has ended early in the first term against Greater Western Sydney after a brutal collision with Giants defender Heath Shaw. 

Townsend was chasing a loose, bouncing ball in Essendon's attacking goalsquare but Shaw gathered the ball first and turned to protect himself as he took possession, crunching the Bomber in the process.

He was taken straight from the field by trainers and headed down to the rooms for assessment, before returning to the interchange bench with a tracksuit top on before the end of the quarter, signalling his night was over. 

The early blow comes as the Bombers aim to claim the scalp of a top-eight team for the first time in a month.