Essendon's revival has continued with a 27-point victory against AFL flag fancies Melbourne as the Bombers claim their biggest scalp under new coach Brad Scott.
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With rucks Sam Draper (three goals) and Andrew Phillips (two goals) logging career-best scoring returns, the Bombers triumphed 15.14 (104) to 11.11 (77).
Midfielders Darcy Parish (33 disposals) and captain Zach Merrett (35 touches) were standouts in Saturday's Gather Round encounter at Adelaide Oval as Essendon, widely tipped pre-season to be also-rans, banked a fourth win from five starts under Scott.
"I'm really proud," Scott said.
"You don't always get reward for effort and today we did so that was really pleasing.
"If we provide that level of effort and good system, I think we can be competitive against good sides."
Essendon's Dylan Shiel (28), Sam Durham (25) and Andrew McGrath (24) were other prolific ball-winners while Kyle Langford, Nick Martin and substitute Nick Hind all booted two goals.
Melbourne's Bailey Fritsch, Jake Melksham and Kysaiah Pickett kicked two majors each and Cameron Oliver (41 disposals, eight clearances) and Jack Viney (27) were shining midfield lights.
But after leading by nine points 10 minutes into the second stanza, the Demons conceded the next seven goals.
"They were working harder contest to contest and that was pretty much the story of the game," Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said.
"They impacted when they went inside 50 and their forwards beat our backs pretty comfortably and hit the scoreboard."
Essendon, with Draper kicking two goals and Parish gathering 13 disposals, led 5.4 to 4.2 at quarter time.
Melbourne's Fritsch, without his fellow forward Ben Brown who was a late withdrawal because of a back injury, kicked two goals for the term.
One Fritsch major followed a 50 metre penalty when he was clipped in the head by a Jayden Laverde forearm, which will attract match review scrutiny.
Essendon's lead disappeared in a second-quarter seesaw as the Demons scored the initial three goals before the Bombers regained ascendancy with the next four to start their burst of seven consecutive majors.
Essendon held a 17-point halftime advantage, 9.10 to 7.5, and the Demons lost Charlie Spargo to concussion late in the second term when he ducked into a Mason Redman tackle and copped a blow to the head.
Melbourne's plight worsened as rain fell in the third quarter when Bomber Jake Stringer goaled and, three minutes later, his teammate Langford skidded a long-range major.
And when Bomber Archie Perkins converted from a tight angle soon after, the margin blew out to match-defining 36 points.
Essendon's triple treats came while Melbourne could muster only two behinds for the quarter as the Bombers dished out a second loss of the season to the Demons.
Australian Associated Press
