First quarter: Melbourne 2.4 (16) to Essendon 2.2 (14)
The opening term was an even contest, although both teams wasted opportunities in front of goal.
Essendon landed the first for the day, via Darcy Parish, before Jeff Garlett opened Melbourne’s account at the eight-minute mark and Jack Watts followed up soon after.
Orazio Fantasia booted the Dons’ second midway through the term and it proved to the last major for the quarter.
Four behinds were registered from that point – two to the Bombers and then a couple by Melbourne in time-on. At quarter-time, Melbourne led by two points.
Six Demons had eight touches by the first break: Nathan Jones, Jayden Hunt, Bernie Vince, Jordan Lewis, Michael Hibberd and Clayton Oliver. Zach Merrett also had eight disposals to be Essendon’s leading ball-gatherer.
Second quarter: Essendon 4.8 (32) to Melbourne 4.6 (30)
The second term was riddled with errors. Turnovers, errant kicks and missed goals were the theme.
Both sides added two goals for the term – Christian Petracca kicked a couple, at the bookends of the quarter, as Fantasia added his second and Andrew McGrath posted his first.
Bomber Joe Daniher kicked a remarkable five behinds for the term to have 0.6 by half-time.
At half-time, Melbourne trailed by two points.
Hibberd had 15 possessions by the long change, as Essendon’s Michael Hurley had a game-high 16.
Third quarter: Melbourne 12.9 (81) to Essendon 6.12 (48)
Melbourne upped the ante significantly in second half – kicking eight goals to two – to lead by 33 points at the final change.
The Demons opened with the first three goals, before it finished the quarter with four in a row.
Garlett and Watts kicked two to have three by the final break; Petracca landed his third for the match at the 14-minute mark. Tom McDonald, Cam Pedersen and Mitch Hannan also chipped in with one each.
Daniher finally got on the board at the 13-minute, when he booted Essendon’s first for the term. Cale Hooker was Essendon’s only other contributor.
Lewis had 24 disposals entering the final stanza, an equal game-high with Merrett.
Final quarter: Melbourne 17.10 (112) d Essendon 10.14 (74)
Melbourne all but secured victory early in the final term, when it extended its lead to 45 points, after Watts opened the quarter with his fourth and Hannan landed his second.
Although Essendon managed three of the next four goals, the result was never in doubt.
And when Petracca added his fourth and Hannan kicked two for the term to finish with three, Melbourne won by 38 points.
Lewis also kicked his first goal for the club in the final term.
Oliver finished with a match-high 33 disposals, as Lewis and Jones had 30 each. Merrett had the most for the Dons with 32 touches.
