Sometimes, nothing goes your way. It was one of those nights for Essendon at the Gabba this evening as the Dons tried everything to no effect and fell to Brisbane by 28 points. Matty Lloyd led strongly, Dustin Fletcher stood like a brick wall at full-back, and a bandaged James Hird was too classy to be brought to earth by a gashed head. The Bombers conceded a five-goal lead in a rough, scrappy first half and never quite got the breaks they needed as the third and fourth terms unfolded. Hird and Paul Barnard missed set chances from inside 30 metres, and Brisbane's flood and ferocity made sure there would be no chance for redemption.