Essendon trails Melbourne by seven points at half-time in its blockbuster clash at the MCG.

The Dons were dealt an early blow with young midfielder Kobe Mutch suffering a hamstring 10 minutes into the game, but the team has handled the loss well early in the contest. Fellow on-baller Devon Smith was under an injury cloud when off the ground for 20 minutes in the second term, but he returned at the end of the half after passing a concussion test.

The game started just as the Bombers had hoped, with an impressive transition from defence into attack through the driving run of defender Conor McKenna seeing key forward Shaun McKernan take an uncontested mark inside 50.

MATCH GALLERY

McKernan coolly converted the set shot to kick Essendon’s first opening-term goal of the season just a minute into the important match.

Former Bomber Jake Melksham fired back soon after for the Demons, but a distinct improvement in pressure, aggression and effort early on for the Bombers was encouraging after two plain starts so far in 2019. 

Weathering a barrage of inside 50s from Melbourne, another slick transition led to the Bombers’ second goal through Orazio Fantasia, once again displaying the importance of speed to the side. 

Jake Stringer was the next Bomber in on the action, attacking the ball with vigour and being rewarded with the team’s third major.

Demon Jay Lockhart replied quickly with his own goal, but Stringer bounced back immediately with a bombing set shot from outside 50 extending Essendon’s lead to 14 points.

McKernan smartly nailed his second with a clever banana following a towering contested grab.

Small forward Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti put the icing on the cake that was a sensational first-quarter performance with a remarkable goal from deep in the right forward pocket.

McDonald-Tipungwuti gathered the ball at full pace before ducking, weaving and tying up a number of opponents before snapping truly.

Essendon eventually entered the first change with a healthy 21-point lead with six goals, a far cry from its first two home and away games.

Corey Wagner kicked the second term off with a goal for the Demons, but the Bombers continued to defend admirably, fighting strongly in the contest.

The Dons were a little wasteful in the early stages of the quarter, but McKernan continued his outstanding effort to get them back on track with his third goal eight minutes into the term.

But Christian Petracca scrubbed home a reply soon after before a Demons onslaught turned the game on its head.

Lockhart, Jayden Hunt, James Harmes, Sam Weideman and Max Gawn made it six in a row for Melbourne, dragging back the margin and turning it into a lead.

The Dees' ball movement was significantly sharper than in the first quarter during their quick run of goals as they made Essendon pay for its critical errors. Melbourne took absolute control of the match as the game changed complexion.

However, an important goal from McDonald-Tipungwuti stemmed the flow with just a minute left on the clock, seeing the side enter the main break just seven points adrift.

MELBOURNE   3.1   10.1  (61)
ESSENDON      6.4    8.6  (54)

GOALS
Melbourne – Lockhart 2, Melksham, Neal-Bullen, Wagner, Petracca, Hunt, Harmes, Weideman, Gawn
Essendon –McKernan 3, Stringer 2, McDonald-Tipungwuti 2, Fantasia