Essendon has lost its opening game of the season, going down to Port Adelaide by 41 points at AAMI Stadium this afternoon. The Bombers work rate and effort could not be questioned but it simply couldn�t find an avenue to goal.

Port Adelaide had Daniel Motlop, Justin Westhoff, Brett Ebert and Robert Gray who kicked 10 goals between them. Essendon�s main targets in front of goal � Matthew Lloyd, Scott Lucas and Jay Neagle � kicked two between them.

While the final margin looks lop-sided, the Bombers were in the game until midway through the final quarter. They came into the final term trailing by less than four goals and with the aid of the breeze looked some chance of causing an upset. Port however had other ideas and finished too strongly.

For Essendon, the good news story of the day was the debut performance of Michael Hurley who looked composed in his first game of AFL football. He spent most of the day on Warren Tredrea and did an excellent job � one contested mark in particular will be remembered as a highlight of his first day in the red and black.

Hayden Skipworth was also an excellent contributor in his first game for the Bombers. Skipworth finished with 30 possessions, took 12 marks and kicked a goal in a most encouraging display.Heath Hocking was tireless collecting 25 touches and laying four tackles while Jobe Watson was clearly Essendon�s best player finishing with 31 touches � a performance that came despite a bone-jarring collision early in the game which forced him from the field.

Play-by-Play

First Quarter

Essendon has made a late change to today's side that will play the season opener against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium. Young ruckman Tom Bellchambers has been withdrawn from the side. Tayte Pears has come into the side as his replacement.

A high pressure opening to the game with first-time Bombers Hayden Skipworth and Michael Hurley impressing.

Danyle Pearce kicked the opening goal of the game despite Essendon looking to have the better opportunities. Jay Neagle in particular had a couple of opportunities to mark deep in the forward line but was unable to make the most of his chances.

Port soon had their second goal courtesy of full back Alipate Carlisle who backed himself to run out of defence and was rewarded.

Brett Ebert marked strongly in front of Henry Slattery to kick Port's third in three minutes and Essendon looks in early trouble. The Bombers are getting slaughtered at stoppages - Pearce in particular was providing his team with great run.

Essendon tightened the contest in the midfield and were rewarded with a goal to Adam McPhee who was paid a free kick about 35m out. He kicked a good goal from a difficult angle.

The Bombers turned the ball over across half back and pay the ultimate penalty with Daniel Motlop running on to a loose ball and kicking an easy goal.

Essendon went into the first break facing a 20-point deficit. They need to make more of their opportunities inside 50m if they are to be in the game at half time.

Second Quarter

Peter Burgoyne earns a free kick after being pushed in the back by Tayte Pears 25m out from goal. He kicks accurately.

Some brilliant in and under work from Jobe Watson gets the ball to Brent Stanton who snaps truly from 35m out.

Essendon kicks consecutive goals for the first time in the game when some hard work across half forward is finished off by Jay Neagle from 40m out.

Andrew Lovett turns the ball over in the midfield and Essendon pays the penalty with Westhoff winning the ball inside 50m and kicking a goal from 30m out.

A magnificent contested mark in defence from Michael Hurley sparks a passage of play that is capped by an Angus Monfries mark and goal from a tight angle.

A Houli howler in the back half turns the ball over and it finishes with Westhoff who kicks his second goal of the quarter.

Brett Ebert outmarks Henry Slattery 20m out from goal and hurts the Bombers right on the half time siren. Essendon goes into the main break with a 28-point deficit.

Third Quarter

Essendon has won more of the ball in the early stages of the third quarter. McPhee and Davey miss gettable opportunities before Stanton stops the rot and kicks straight after marking 20m out.

Andrew Lovett - who has been on the receiving end of a verbal batrrage from Port Adelaide players since the first bounce - receives a free kick 30m out from goal and kicks straight.

Daniel Motlop replies for Port Adelaide with a brilliant set shot goal from the boundary line. It is in effect a two-goal turn around with Matthew Lloyd seemingly unlucky not to win a free kick in a marking contest at the other end of the ground.

An excellent tackle from Hayden Skipworth on Kane Cornes is rewarded and he kicks straight from 35m out. But Cornes quickly makes amends hitting Robert Gray with an excellent pass 35m out directly in front and his teammate kicks straight.

Josh Carr celebrates his return to Port with a goal - outmarking Courtenay Dempsey 15m out from goal and finishing off his good work with a goal.

This time it is Dempsey who makes up for being outpointed in defence - the young defender drifting forward and taking a mark and kicking a very good goal into the breeze.

Final Quarter

The quarter starts badly for the Bombers after a turnover from David Hille in the midfield costs his side dearly. Port take the ball forward and Robert Gray marks and goals.

Essendon tries desperately to stay in touch with Port Adelaide and it does so through Scott Lucas who marks and kicks his first goal from 50m out.

Port ice the game with eight minutes to go when Motlop - the Bombers' nemesis in recent seasons - is left all alone in the forward 50m and strolls into an open goal to put the match beyond doubt.

Westhoff adds to his goal tally kicking his third from 30m out to put Port 34-points up. Both sides look dead on their feet.

Brett Ebert assists in the set up of yet another goal when a clever kick finds Motlop on the lead and he kicks his third for the game and second in the final quarter.