If Essendon is to become a legitimate contender in the coming seasons it needs to start winning on the road regularly and it took an important step in the right direction at the SCG this afternoon.
 
The Bombers were as hard at the football as they have been all season and it was the cornerstone of a comfortable 35-point victory.

Essendon had some outstanding contributors, none more so than veteran Scott Lucas who showed he was anything but a spent force. Lucas was outstanding across half forward, working tirelessly, marking strongly and setting up a number of goals.

At the other end of the ground, youngster Tayte Pears again showed he will be a star of the future, winning plenty of the football and having a genuine physical presence that belies his years. Dustin Fletcher and Adam McPhee were also excellent in defence.

Jobe Watson, Andrew Welsh, Jason Winderlich and Andrew Lovett were very good through the midfield while Paddy Ryder produced one of his best performances of the season, completely outpointing Swans ruckman Darren Jolly.
 
“I thought Scott was a good contributor. He kicked three, gave a couple away and kept presenting and that is what the coach asked of him,” Essendon football manager Paul Hamilton said after the game.

“We got a pretty even contribution across the board which was really pleasing. We were a little concerned that we didn’t get reward for effort in the first quarter – which was the case against Collingwood last week – but this time it didn’t come back to haunt us.”

Hamilton was full of praise for 19-year-old Pears.

“He played a different role this week at centre half back which gave him the opportunity to run and create. The fact we had Michael Hurley in the side and playing deep allowed us to change things around a little bit,” he said.

“I thought Winderlich was excellent for us and so was Brent Stanton – the work rate of both those players was exceptional.

“We also finished ahead in contested ball and that was a good result against a Sydney side that is rarely beaten in that department. Watson and Welsh were very good in that area, particularly Jobe who we didn’t know would be playing until yesterday.""

Essendon now faces a Western Bulldogs side on the rebound at Etihad Stadium next Friday night.

“The challenge this week was to beat a Sydney side that had not been beaten at home this season,"" Hamilton said.
 
""Next week will be another opportunity for us to gauge if we are improving - we are a work in progress and the best way to see how you are progressing is against good sides.”