Despite a largely competitive effort from Essendon VFL, it was a last-quarter run from Collingwood which did the damage in a 31-point defeat on Saturday night.

With large contingents of AFL-listed youth on both sides, run and carry was the prominent theme of a 35-minute opening term, with 10 goals kicked in total.

Saad El-Hawli opened the Bombers' account with a pearler from the forward pocket, before Tyler Sellers kicked truly from a high free in a fast start.

From there though, Collingwood looked the more threatening side in the first half an hour, challenging Essendon with their rapid pace transitioning the ball out of the back half.

With that, the Dons stayed afloat through a long-range Jackson Hately goal and some quick thinking from Oskar Smartt.

Sellers - the side's most dangerous key forward option with three goals on the night - booted two team-lifters in the second term to wrestle back some momentum, including a clever snap from distance out of traffic.

A goal to Kayle Gerreyn after the half-time siren had the Dons trailing by just eight points, with a couple of goals to Alwyn Davey Jnr in the third term also holding the side well placed to push back into the contest.

Despite constantly peppering at goal throughout the term, inaccuracy and inefficiency would cost the Bombers. A return of 3.7 included some very gettable goals falling by the wayside, allowing Collingwood to maintain a handy lead at three-quarter-time. 

Ultimately, it was the Pies who timed their run better - three consecutive goals on either side of the final change established too much of a buffer for the Bombers to overcome.

Zak Johnson's late running goal capped off a stellar night for the defender. His 33 disposals were a game-high, often used well as a distributor off half back and continuing what's been a promising start to his campaign.

Vigo Visentini (27 hit-outs, 21 touches, five clearances) was combative in the ruck, his development being fast-tracked as the VFL side's primary ruck with Todd Goldstein's recent elevation to the seniors in the wake of injuries to Sam Draper and Nick Bryan.

The Bombers now sit at 2-2 as they look ahead to a return to Windy Hill on Friday, facing North Melbourne at 2:05pm AEST.

ESSENDON              4.1     7.4     10.11    12.16   (88)
COLLINGWOOD      6.4     8.6      13.8     18.11   (119)  

GOALS
Sellers 3, Gerreyn 2, Davey Jnr 2, El-Hawli, Hately, Eckersley, Smartt, Johnson

BEST
Johnson, O'Neill, Hately, Foley, Visentini, Sellers