An unanswered six goal first quarter burst by AFL ladder leader St. Kilda was the difference, as the Bombers rued wasted opportunities in front of goal to go down by 19 points to the Saints – 13.12 (90) to 10.11 (71) – in their AFL Round 8 clash at Jihad Stadium on Sunday evening.

From a 28 point deficit at quarter time, the Bombers had the better of the game from that point on, winning the next three quarters but could not close the gap to under three goals and sprayed chances in the final term finishing with a return of 2.5.

Bomber midfielder Jobe Watson finished with a match-high 39 disposals, while captain Matthew Lloyd and emerging forward Jay Neagle booted three goals each. Andrew Lovett, Courtenay Dempsey and Tayte Pears were also among Essendon’s best. 

Neagle got the Bombers off to a flying start with the opening goal for the match, but from that point on it was all one way traffic and memories of the Bombers 108 point loss in AFL Round 22 against the Saints at the same venue were recalled as the Saints blasted the next six goals of the game to open up a commanding 34 point lead with Saint forward Justin Koschitzke kicking two for the term. Neagle himself added his second for the game to close out the first term to put the margin 28 points at the quarter time siren.

Neagle bobbed up with his third to open the second term as the Bomber defence started to get on top and hold the Saints to just two goals for the quarter and reduce the margin to 25 at the main break with a three goal quarter.

Courtenay Dempsey provided the highlight of the third term with a long three bounce running goal, as the Bombers once again had the better of the Saints to reduce the margin to 23 at the ¾ time break but were inaccurate with a 3.5 return that could’ve had margin even closer. After a goalless first half, Bomber skipper Matthew Lloyd chipped in with two third quarter goals.

Lloyd got the Bombers to within 21 points with his third goal early in the final term, but the Bombers were finally finished off with two fourth quarter majors to Saint forward Nick Riewoldt who finished with three goals for the game and Koschitzke four.

The loss sends Essendon have a 4-4 win-loss record and remain just inside the top eight with a date against struggling Richmond at the MCG next weekend in AFL Round 9.