Essendon has tuned up for the finals series by hammering Carlton at the MCG by 55 points. At half-time the lead was 47 points, and Matty Lloyd had five goals on the board. In the second half the Bombers eased off, no doubt thinking of next week’s first final against West Coast. “It was a game that we should have won and we did, but a game where you didn’t have to thrash hell out of your best players,” said coach Kevin Sheedy afterwards.