After leading from start to within 15 minutes of the finish, the Bombers fell apart in the final term as the Adelaide Crows overran the home side, to take home a 16 point victory in their AFL Round 11 clash at Jihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Unknown Crow forward Kurt Tippett kicked a career high seven goals to see his side run out 21.4 (130) to 18.6 (114) winners and see the Bombers head into the mid-season break with a 5-6 record and sit in 11th spot on the AFL ladder at the midway point of the season.

The Bombers dominated the opening 15 minutes of the match but could only show a six point lead on the scoreboard until Jobe Watson snared two quick goals, followed by a long bomb via Ricky Dyson which saw the Bombers open up a handy 26 point lead before th Crows chipped in with two late goals to reduce the margin to 15 points at the quarter time break.

Scott Lucas, back after a months penance playing in the VFL, capitalised on a mistake from Crow ruckman Ivan Maric – who was penalised for a deliberate rushed behind extended the Bombers lead to begin the second term. Lucas finished the first half with three goals and a welcome return to the senior lineup, but the Crows straight kicking kept them in the contest as the Bombers held a 10 point lead at the main break.

A three-goal burst to begin the second half saw the Bombers extend their lead to 21 points at the 12-minute mark of the third quarter before Ivan Maric and Taylor Walker and two goals to Tippett got the Crows within 8 points heading into the final term as both sides finished with six goals each for the third quarter.

Adelaide hit the front for the first time in the match when Jason Porplyzia kicked truly at the three-minute mark of the final term. The Crows went on to score the first four goals of the term, jumping out to a 15-point lead and from that point didn’t look back as the Bombers had stopped to a walk.

Scott Lucas top-scored for Essendon with four goals for the game as skipper Matthew Lloyd and young forward Jay Neagle both had days they would like to forget. Midfielders Brent Stanton and Andrew Lovett racked up 31 possession each, while Jobe Watson and Bachar Houli claimed 26 each. Watson also booted a career-best three goals.

“We were a little bit flippant with our disposals in that period and it coincided with taking Paddy Ryder off the ground and Edwards, three or four times, swept through the centre bounce.” Essendon coach Matthew Knights said after the game. “They got momentum back and it was an arm wrestle for most of the day and, in the end, Adelaide were more clinical with their disposal and better with their hands. We didn’t have the ruthlessness to put Adelaide away.”

“It was very pleasing from my perspective to see Scott (Lucas) come back and have an impact,” Knights added. “He’s been through a tough period over the last month playing in the VFL. When you’ve been such an amazing player in this league and then to go back and play in the VFL at this stage of the year can be really tough, so he’s handled it well and full credit to him today. I was rapt to see him get a couple of goals and contribute. I’ve got no doubt he’ll be able to make an impact for us in the second half of the year.”

The Bombers now have a week off to lick their wounds before an AFL Round 12 clash against AFL Ladder bottom feeder Melbourne and a chance to square their ledger at 6-6.