Essendon has moved to within four points off the AFL Top 8 following an easy 35 point victory – 19.16 (130) to 14.11 (95) – over Richmond at the MCG on Saturday night in their AFL Round 9 “Dreamtime at the ‘G” clash.

The Bombers setup the win with an unanswered seven goal run in first quarter with ruckman David Hille continuing with his good recent form with 26 possessions, 14 marks and 3 goals while Jobe Watson (28 disposals), Brent Prismall and Leroy Jetta were also among Essendon’s best.

The win lifts the Bombers to a 4-5 record and a matchup with the high-flying Western Bulldogs at Jihad Stadium next Friday night.

Young Tiger forward Jack Riewoldt had the chance to give his side a flaying start after he was given a free kick before the opening bounce. But he sprayed his kick from 40 metres out to the left and the Tigers would not threaten the goals until the Bombers had slammed on seven goals in 15 minutes to make a mockery of the contest early on before time-on in the first quarter had been reached.

Unsurprisingly the Bombers dominated on the stat sheet having 64 uncontested possessions to 32 and 39 marks to 15 as the Tigers chipped in with the final two goals of the opening term to reduce the margin to 27 points at the first break.

Riewoldt kicked the first two goals of the second term to reduce the margin to only 15 points with five minutes on the clock and suddenly the Bombers were in a contest once again. However, the Bombers kicked three of the next four goals to re-establish a healthy 29 point lead at the halftime break.

The Bombers extended their lead to 41 points with one quarter to go after a wayward 4.7 third term before the Tigers finished with a six goal final term to produce some sort of ‘respectability’ on the scoreboard with Riewoldt finishing with a game high six goals.

“We had to really get moving tonight, understanding that Richmond had played quite well the last two weeks,” Essendon coach Matthew Knights said after the match.

“It was important we got off early, we kicked really straight, it was just unfortunate later in the game … we were a little bit wayward. It’s important that when we have a margin like that at three-quarter time, we keep grinding – for Richmond to kick six in that last quarter, that was probably too many.”

“Dreamtime at the ‘G is massive for our club, we had five indigenous players tonight and I thought they all did the club proud. It’s an amazing night for the Essendon Football Club to be involved in.”