This one was a comfortable watch for Essendon fans.
Entering round two in 2013 off the back of a strong interstate win over Adelaide, the Bombers had some confidence heading into the MCG to take on Melbourne – and they left with much more.
A brilliant start quickly set the tone for the match as the Bombers piled on five of the first six goals within the first 17 minutes before taking a handy 25-point lead into the first change.
The rush of goals continued in the second term, with Essendon booting another seven goals and strangling its opponent by taking complete control of the Sherrin and restricting the Dees to just two of their own to extend the lead to 55 at half-time.
Nathan Jones got the Demons on the board with a goal three minutes into the third term, but they would score just once more – a lone behind in the final quarter.
In that time the Bombers would show little mercy, going on to kick a further 14.9 to close out the contest.
It was an utterly dominant performance from the flying Bombers, who left the MCG with a 148-point victory, leading disposals 452 to 262, inside 50s 78 to 28, contested possessions 151 to 107, tackles 61 to 35 and marks inside 50 22 to four.
And while the Dons worked incredibly as a team, there were still some simply sensational individual efforts.
Dyson Heppell (36 disposals, six inside 50s, six clearances and two goals) took home the three Brownlow votes, with Jobe Watson (38 disposals, 20 contested possessions, nine contested possessions and three goals) and Brent Stanton (33 disposals, 11 inside 50s, four goal assists and two goals) equally huge in the midfield.
They were among nine multiple goalkickers in the red and black, led impressively by Stewart Crameri (six goals) and Tom Bellchambers (four).
ESSENDON 6.2 13.6 21.11 28.16 (184)
MELBOURNE 2.1 4.5 5.5 5.6 (36)
GOALS
Essendon: Crameri 6, Bellchambers 4, Watson 3, Davey 2, Heppell 2, Howlett 2, Hurley 2, Merrett
Melbourne: Davey 2, Clark, Grimes, Jones
