Essendon have failed to match the strengths of an impressive West Coast Eagles side, going down by 21 points in the first game of the NAB Cup competition at Patersons Stadium this afternoon.

The Bombers were also fielding a young and inexperienced squad, but were unable to halt the Eagles' first-half dominance. They conceded five goals to one in the opening 20 minutes and trailed by 23 points at half-time, a deficit they could not overcome. 

Third-year Eagles forward Gerrick Weedon provided the early spark. After playing only one senior game in 2011 - his AFL debut - Weedon appears to have improved his game. He was everywhere in the first half, laying two tackles, winning three free kicks and kicking two goals. 

After being swamped by the Eagles' pressure early in the game, the Bombers acclimatised to Perth's stifling conditions and began to play with a little more system in the second half. 
Hams was one of several young Eagles to impress. Brad Sheppard provided some dash, while former Bulldog Josh Hill looked to enjoy the wide spaces of his new home ground, using his creativity on the wing. 

Late in the game Hill also pushed forward to mark strongly and convert his attempt at goal, showing enough to suggest he will be in coach John Worsfold's plans to help replace injured forward Mark LeCras throughout the season. 

For the Bombers it was not a good start to the NAB Cup but not all was lost. Courtenay Dempsey, in his first game back from a knee reconstruction, was classy in defence, while rookie-listed small forward Cory Dell'Olio was lively near goal.