The injury-ravaged Bombers have collapsed again, succumbing to the Giants by 48 points at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night.
Essendon needed to start fast to have any chance against the top-four-placed GWS side, but they never gave themselves one.
While they peppered the scoreboard, they got little reward, kicking seven goals and 14 behinds in another disappointing performance.
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At the other side of the ground, former Bomber Jake Stringer starred against his old side, scoring 3.1. Teammate Tom Green was also lethal with 30 disposals, 16 clearances and a goal.
Jake Stringer of the Giants celebrates a goal against his old club. Morgan Hancock via Getty Images
Despite dominating possession and territory in the first term, the depleted Bombers were wasteful in front of goal.
While the Bombers’ shots at goal went wayward, the Giants slotted back-to-back goals from free kicks through Toby Greene and Aaron Cadman.
At quarter time, Essendon’s scorecard read 0.5 (5) after four failed targets.
“This builds on you as a player when there’re multiple behinds. Especially after last week when they kicked one goal after quarter time,” Jack Riewoldt told Fox Footy.
“They would know that stat and know it’s been four quarters since they’ve kicked a goal. That builds on you as a goalkicker — personally and as a team.”
But the pain flowed into the second term with the Bombers’ first goal of the match not coming until 25 minutes in, despite having had more scoring shots.
The Bombers make their way off the ground following their loss to the Giants. Morgan Hancock via Getty Images
The major came from Essendon’s mature-age debutant Liam McMahon.
With McMahon’s introduction, Essendon equalled Fitzroy’s record of 13 debutants in the one season, which was set back in 1991.
McMahon finished the best of the Bombers with two goals, alongside key forward Peter Wright.
“It’s deflating because you’ve done so much hard work to create the opportunity, then you don’t get the reward,” Hawks legend Jason Dunstall said in commentary.
“That saps the players up-field [and] the confidence of the player who misses goes down, then the next bloke who’s got to kick goes, ‘Aw gee, what if I miss?’ And you start having negative thoughts because everyone has been missing.”
In the third term, Essendon midfielder Sam Durham came from the ground for a concussion test after being wrapped up in a tackle by GWS ruck Kieren Briggs.
The act could see Briggs in hot water with match review officer Michael Christian after Durham’s head slammed into the turf with his arms pinned.
Fortunately, Durham returned after the three-quarter time break.
Essendon defender Jayden Laverde could also come under scrutiny after he was penalised for tunnelling. The incident saw Cadman come crashing down from a marking attempt.
The 16.8 (104) to 7.14 (56) victory gave GWS’ finals hopes a much-needed boost.
