Essendon senior coach John Worsfold has lamented his side's inability to compete in a poor first half against Geelong at the Gabba on Sunday.

The Bombers were comprehensively outplayed in the early stages of their 62-point loss, trailing by 30 points at quarter-time.

That deficit was extended to 59 points at half-time, as Essendon allowed Geelong to tally 35 more marks and 52 more disposals in the first half.

Worsfold refused to blame an interrupted preparation for the slow start, despite the Bombers' bus trip from their Maroochydore hub to the Gabba taking three-and-a-half-hours instead of the usual 90 minutes.

"It’s just something that happened. Our preparation wasn’t ideal, that’s all I can say," Worsfold said.

"There was still stuff happening in the game that had nothing to do with sitting on the bus a little bit too long. 

"We knew we were playing a really good team and they dominated around the contest.

"We didn't put anywhere near enough pressure on them, especially in that first quarter, and then they got their tails up.

"Our lack of pressure showed in that first half.

"There is a gap between where we are at and the top sides."

The Bombers' loss was further soured by a potentially serious injury to dynamic youngster Irving Mosquito.

The second-year forward hobbled from the ground in severe pain after twisting his left knee just before three-quarter time, and did not return.

Worsfold said the Bombers were fearing a suspected ACL for the fourth-gamer.

"It’s not looking good, the mechanism of it all," Worsfold said.

"Possibly an ACL, but we'll confirm that in the next day or so."