Essendon’s 2010 NAB Cup campaign collapsed at the first hurdle going down by 35 points against the West Coast Eagles at Subiaco Oval on Friday night.

The Bombers kicked just three goals after half time as the Weagles ran out winners, 1.16.12 (117) to 0.12.10 (82), in front of a crowd of 23,860 at Subiaco Oval in the 2010 AFL season opener.

West Coast second year ruckman Nic Naitanui was the difference between the two sides with Naitanui dominating in the ruck and around the ground while Weagle midfielders Brett Ebert, Matt Priddis and Daniel Kerr were also prominent.

The home side kicked two goals in the first three minutes of the match, before the Essendon midfielders, led by Mark McVeigh and new skipper Jobe Watson, began to get their hands and the footy and slow the Weagles momentum.

Jason Winderlich, Angus Monfries and new Bomber recruit Mark Williams gave the Bombers the lead and when Williams kicked his second goal early in the second term, the margin moved out to five goals and the Bombers were well in control.

Weagle forward Andrew Embley goal steadied the ship for the home side before Naitanui snapped a goal from deep in the right forward pocket to reduce the margin to a goal nearing the half time siren.

The third term belonged to the home side, who hit the front with a nine-point goal after Naitanui was awarded a 50m penalty.

While the Eagles still made plenty of handling errors, their midfielders hurt Essendon with hard running out of Essendon’s backline. Josh Kennedy, Mark LeCras and Mark Nicoski did the damage on the scoreboard in the third term, and the Weagles had seven goals for the term to the Bombers nil and the match was all over at the 3/4 time break.

NAB CUP ROUND 1

West Coast 0.3.0 0.8.5 1.14.8 1.16.12 (117)
Essendon 0.7.1 0.9.3 0.9.6 0.12.10 (82)

GOALS
West Coast: Nine-point goals: Naitanui. Goals: Kennedy 3, LeCras 3, Naitanui 2, Embley, Masten, Nicoski, Rosa, Schofield
Essendon: Nine-point goals: Nil. Goals: Williams 3, Winderlich 2, Jetta 2, Monfries 2, Riemers, Still, Zaharakis

BEST
West Coast: Naitanui, Masten, Kennedy, Ebert, Priddis, LeCras
Essendon: Watson, McVeigh, Prsmall, Dyson, Houli, Winderlich

INJURIES
West Coast: Nil
Essendon: Nil

Reports: Nil

Crowd: 23,860 at Subiaco Oval