Essendon kicked off its 2018 season in style with a massive 102-point win over competition returners Frankston at Skybus Stadium on Saturday.

The Bombers kicked 12 goals to none in the second half with Danny Younan and Jackson Merrett kicking five apiece.

Forward line potency rendered Essendon unstoppable after the main break – Younan and Merrett used their speed to open up the forward line, while key target Shaun McKernan (three goals) provided aerial supremacy in the 21.17 (143) to 6.5 (41) win.

Essendon got off to a flyer with a seven-goal first quarter before the Dolphins wrestled their way back into the match in front of a parochial home crowd. However, once the Bombers got on top after half time the margin ballooned.

With Mason Redman and Kobe Mutch’s ferocious attack on the ball providing defensive rebound and the forward entry of Matt Guelfi and Dylan Clarke continuing unabated, the Bombers were irresistible.

An eight-goal-to-none avalanche in the final quarter pushed the margin into three figures by the siren, with Heath Hocking getting in on the action with a goal from the square in his first match as captain.

Impressively, Essendon never took the foot off the pedal even with the match well in their keeping. Midfielder Nick Hind embodied his side’s total commitment in the final quarter when he stood under a rainmaker to hold a mark with Frankston ruck Lewis Pierce charging behind him and was rewarded with a goal.

Coach Dan Jordan says there was a lot to like about his side’s performance in his first match as senior coach.

“To the boys’ credit they really stuck to their guns in the second half particularly around the focus areas we wanted to improve on,” Jordan said post-match.

“We spoke about a few things we wanted to fix up at half time when they kicked three goals to our two in the second quarter we thought they brought a bit more heat around the ball.

“We spoke about a bit more composure and getting our ball movement going again, opening it up and taking it to the other side and getting it in to our forwards one-on-one.”

“Then some forward line pressure to be able to keep that ball in the forward line I thought was outstanding in the second half,” Jordan said.

“Our backs were really diligent at setting it up and keeping it in our half. The midfielders around the contest were a lot better at getting their hands on it.”