WEST COASTÂ Â 3.4 Â 8.5 Â 11.7 Â 20.10 (130)
ESSENDONÂ Â Â Â 4.1 Â 5.5 Â 5.9 Â Â 7.10 Â (52)
GOALS - West Coast: McGinnity 4, Kennedy 3, Hutchings 3, Gaff 2, Cripps 2, Darling 2, Yeo, Shuey, LeCras, Priddis. Essendon: Daniher 3, Goddard, Dempsey, Brown, Fantasia.
BEST - West Coast: Gaff,  Masten, Priddis, Shuey, McGovern, Nelson. Essendon: Bird, Kelly, Z Merrett, J Merrett, Daniher, Goddard.
UMPIRES Margetts, Farmer, Deboy, Wallace.
CROWDÂ 33,117 at Domain Stadium.
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Eagles thrash competitive Dons
West Coast have kept their top four hopes alive with a thumping 78-point win over Essendon at Domain Stadium.
West Coast's 2006 premiership team sat in the Domain Stadium stands on Thursday night and watched the 2016 model etch out a 78-point victory over Essendon.
But for much of the game, the latest edition of the Eagles looked way short of being a side capable of adding a fourth premiership cup to the trophy cabinet this year.
West Coast controlled the game after quarter-time, but the margin only started to get out of control late in the third term.
They then kicked eight unanswered goals from the nine-minute mark of the final term to the final siren. Orazio Fantasia slotted one through after the siren to give the Bombers just their third goal since quarter-time. West Coast's Pat McGinnity kicked three of his four goals in the same time.
The Eagles were supposed to use last week's bye to regroup and re-find the form that saw them reach last year's Grand Final, but that has been sadly lacking over the past few weeks.
But the football they produced in the opening term, and much of the next two, was far from free-flowing.
Losses to the Western Bulldogs and Adelaide and a less than impressive victory over Brisbane at the Gabba leading into the bye saw them start this round in eighth place on the AFL ladder, without a win against a side above them this season.Â
They get another chance to rectify that next week when they host North Melbourne, but there must be doubts about whether they are ready for that challenge.
With Nic Naitanui sidelined, Scott Lycett and Mitch Brown, playing his first game since round 1, 2015 and a second knee reconstruction, couldn't provide the Eagles midfield with the delivery they were used to.
For Essendon, the second half of this season could be even tougher than their first – and they have now gone 11 games away from Melbourne without a win.
But they led by three points at quarter-time; claiming just their third opening term for the season.
The Bombers smashed the Eagles in clearances (15-6) and contested possessions (33-26) in the opening term, led by Craig Bird, Zach Merrett, James Kelly and James Gwilt in his 150th AFL game.
They went forward 11 times and scored 4.1 to lead by three points.
As the Eagles were celebrating their 2006 premiership win, headlines about the Bombers spoiling the party may have been premature, but were at least being thought of.
Would likening a Bombers victory to Iceland's midweek victory over England in Euro 2016 be too much of a stretch?
Even if so, what a homecoming it would have been for the coach of that Eagles premiership side from a week ago, John Worsfold.
But the Bombers had no Ben Cousins, or Chris Judd to help them keep the momentum going for his side – and they lost it quickly.
And as the Eagles started to take back control, through the likes of Chris Masten, Andrew Gaff and Matt Priddis, the Bombers frustrations started to come through.
Unfortunately for Worsfold, his senior players didn't handle it too well.
David Zaharakis, being well held by Jackson Nelson, appeared to give the young Eagle a stomach punch that forced him from the ground, vomiting.
Then just after half-time, with the margin still only 18 points, Bombers ruckman Mark Jamar was reported for striking Jeremy McGovern high, off the ball, when the play had stopped.
Sure, he was only replying to a shoulder shove by the Eagles defender, but the response was careless and really not what the Bombers needed.
After a promising performance against GWS before the bye and dogged defensive one against the Eagles on Thursday, there will be some confidence going in against St Kilda next week.
But without Jamar and possibly Zaharakis? The ruckman will miss that clash anyway, with a hamstring injury that sidelined him midway through the third term on Thursday.
Jamar's benching was followed with the first goal of the third term, courtesy of a free kick to Luke Shuey, 14 minutes into the quarter. It took the margin to 25 points.
It was only a matter of time before West Coast's many forward options became too much for Essendon's undermanned defence to handle.
The Eagles didn't do themselves any favours early in the contest; taking six marks in attack in the opening term and kicking just 3.4.
Kennedy's free kick just after quarter-time to kick his second goal also give his side the lead for the first time in the game.