Essendon was outlasted by the ladder-leading Richmond by 32 points at Windy Hill on Sunday.
After momentum ebbed and flowed in the first three quarters, the Bombers were unable to match the Tigers for pressure in the final term.
Leading by 28 points but kicking into a stiff breeze, Richmond quickly snuffed out any hopes of an Essendon upset to have the four points in their keeping well before the siren. The Bombers eventually fell 7.15 (57) to 13.11 (89).
From the outset, the Tigers’ pressure around the ball tested Essendon. Although defenders Michael Hartley and Jordan Ridley generated intercept possessions and rebounded well, Richmond began to inflict scoreboard damage with overwhelming numbers up forward.
The home side conceded seven of the first nine goals of the game and trailed by as much as 31 points halfway through the second quarter before a comeback had the match on even terms at the main break.
Danny Younan relished the open space in Essendon’s forward line and kicked two goals with his customary relentless bustle. Castlemaine-born debutant Kalan Huntly got in on the act with his first Essendon goal and Nick Hind snapped his side’s fourth for the quarter to bridge the gap to just nine points at half-time.
Essendon soaked up the first fifteen minutes of the third quarter before the Tigers broke through to string together three late goals with the wind to extend the gap to 28 at the final change. The task was not beyond the Bombers but they were left rueing inefficient entry inside 50.
The Bombers looked their best when they were able to match Richmond’s pressure around contests and prevent the Tigers from streaming forward.
Darcy Parish was instrumental upon his return from a wrist injury, gathering 39 possessions (21 contested) and 10 clearances.
Brandon Zerk-Thatcher continued his recent run of saving his best for the last quarter with a pair of goal-saving efforts in defence, while Dylan Clarke had good value for his 26 disposals.
The loss leaves Essendon in fourth place, just percentage clear of fifth-placed Box Hill. As coach Dan Jordan pointed out, the Bombers matched it with the Tigers in key areas.
“They [Richmond] definitely won it. They were able to defend in their back half better … we have to be more efficient when we’re going inside 50,” Jordan said.
“There’s still some positives to come out of the game. We won contested ball and had the same number of looks in our forward half. They’re number one for a reason and it was a great challenge to come up against the best side and see where we’re at.”
Essendon will look to get back on the winner’s list against Werribee next Saturday at Chirnside Park.
ESSENDON 1.2 5.6 5.11 7.15.57
RICHMOND 5.3 7.3 10.9 13.11.89
GOALS
Essendon – Stewart 2, Younan 2, Merrett, Hind, Huntly
Richmond – Mannagh 3, Baker 2, Grewar, Bolton, Coleman-Jones, Coates, Menadue, Stengle, Lloyd, Ballard
BEST
Parish, Heppell, Zerk-Thatcher, Younan, Clarke, Draper
