Essendon has made easy work of the Brisbane Lions to record a 67-point victory at Docklands, its fifth win of the year.
The Bombers had far too much run for the Lions, and racked up nearly 100 more possessions to emphasise its dominance in the 19.15 (129) to 9.7 (62) win.
Leading the way was Bombers midfielder Brent Stanton, who produced a star performance with 39 touches, 17 marks and eight tackles for the match.
Essendon was also strong at the back with Dyson Heppell and the evergreen Dustin Fletcher - two days off his 37th birthday - dealing with most of the Lions attacking thrusts.
There were no cobwebs on display from the Bombers, who were returning to football after a 10-day break.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the match had nowhere near the intensity of the Bombers' last outing on Anzac Day against Collingwood.
Brisbane could not bring enough pressure to bear on Essendon's running players, as the likes of Stanton and captain Jobe Watson made hay.
Leroy Jetta told Grandstand that Stanton was playing better than ever for the Bombers.
"Stants has had a hip operation over the break, but his preseason has probably been one of the best, and he can run all day,'' Jetta said.
"He can get the inside ball and he can damage you outside as well, he's really good for us.
"His work-rate is probably the best in the comp, he never stops running ... he's just awesome.''
Jetta said Essendon had expected a tough game despite Brisbane's lowly ladder position.
"We knew we had to play four quarters of footy, Brisbane are a great club, they have got great players, (the likes of) Simon Black, Daniel Rich, if they get their hands on it they can be very damaging,'' he said.
"So we knew we had to play four quarters ... and I think we did that today.''
The Bombers were firing early, with four first-quarter goals to Stewart Crameri on the way to an eight-goal term.
Essendon led by 26 points at the first change and 35 points at the half.
Unfortunately for Essendon, however, Crameri ended the game with his ankle and knee covered in ice after an injury forced him to limp from the field in the final term.
But Bombers coach James Hird said Crameri's injury was not serious and just bruising.
"He got a knock to his knee and we all thought the worst up in the box," he said.
"But at the moment, the doctors are very confident he's got a knock to the inside of his knee and his shin.
"We'll obviously monitor him over the couple of days, but as much as I can be assured by the doctor he'll be right next week."
Essendon: 19.15 (129) - Crameri 4, Davey 3, Jetta 3, Lonergan 2, Monfries 2, Melksham, Dyson, Lovett-Murray, Dempsey, Watson.
Brisbane: 9.7 (62) - Polec 2, Brown 2, Crisp 2, Hudson, McGrath, Cornelius.
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, vic, melbourne-3000 First posted May 05, 2012 16:37:07