MELBOURNE'S winless start to 2025 has continued with a 39-point loss to Essendon at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.
Despite a third-quarter burst of energy from the Dees, they fell to the Bombers at a result of 15.6 (96) to 8.9 (57).
Essendon took early control of the Gather Round game, kicking the opening two goals of the match via Harrison Jones and Jye Menzie.
While it was only a small margin of 12 points at the first break, Melbourne seemed to fall away further in the second term unable to get a hold of their opposition's momentum.
The Bombers surged to a 35-point lead early in the third quarter, but a ten-minute jolt of connection from Melbourne had the margin back inside two goals.
The game was very much alive as the final break loomed, with scores from Harrison Petty, Bayley Fritsch, Kysaiah Pickett and Harry Sharp putting the red and blue back within reach.
However, that's where the resistance ended as the Bombers put their collective feet on the pedal in the final term, leaving the Dees with a lot to work on ahead of a make-or-break clash with Fremantle next Saturday.
MELBOURNE 1.4 2.5 7.7 8.9 (57)
ESSENDON 3.4 7.4 10.5 15.6 (96)
GOALS
Melbourne: Pickett 2, Fritsch 2, Sparrow, Sharp, Petty, Langdon
Essendon: Menzie 4, Hobbs 2, Caddy 2, Shiel, Perkins, Martin, Jones, Gresham, Duursma, Redman
BEST
Melbourne: Gawn, Pickett, Petracca, Langdon, Bowey
Essendon: Merrett, Martin, Menzie, Ridley, Durham, Shiel
INJURIES
Melbourne: TBC
Essendon: Bryan (knee)
SUBSTITUTES
Melbourne: Harry Sharp, replaced Jack Henderson in the third quarter
Essendon: Saad El-Hawli, replaced Nick Bryan in the first quarter
Crowd: 45,039 at Adelaide Oval
