ESSENDON survived a slow start and a late scare against a much-improved West Coast, with returning forward Peter Wright booting six goals in his first game of the season to steer the Bombers to a two-point win at Optus Stadium on Good Friday.

The Bombers were ambushed early and fell 29 points down in the second quarter, but Wright's long-range goalkicking and a strong midfield put the Bombers back in control to win 11.11 (77) to 11.9 (75).

EAGLES v BOMBERS Full match coverage and stats

The Dons' third straight win could come at a potentially significant cost, however, after ruckman Sam Draper limped from the ground early in the fourth quarter with an Achilles tendon injury that occurred innocuously and well off the ball when he pushed off his leg to run. 

Winger Xavier Duursma was also in pain late in the game after copping a knee to the ribs in a marking contest, with the 24-year-old sent to hospital as a precaution.

While they started slowly and played poorly for some extended periods, the Bombers will be thrilled with their ability to grind out an important win after back-to-back road trips. 

Playing his first game since a pre-season ankle ligament injury, Wright was outstanding with his ability to launch at the ball and then convert from beyond 50m, with the 28-year-old the standout player in an otherwise even team performance.

Midfielder Nic Martin (26 disposals and a goal) performed as he always does against West Coast, while Zach Merrett (26 and seven clearances) had an impact under heavy attention.

Draper got on top in the ruck the longer the game went on and kicked a crucial snap set shot in the third quarter as the bombers were making their charge. His potential absence will be keenly felt after last week's ACL injury to fellow ruck Nick Bryan.   

While the Eagles were much-improved after their 71-point loss to Carlton, the loss extended their worst start to a season and represented a fifth consecutive loss to the Bombers, with their last win at home coming against Gold Coast in round 21 last year.  

Key forward Jake Waterman (four goals) and returning vice captain Jeremy McGovern (23 disposals and 10 rebound 50s) led the way, with young midfielder Elijah Hewett making a big impact on return with 22 disposals and two goals.

Brad Scott warned his team during the week that they could not afford to take the Eagles lightly, declaring there was no such thing as an easy game in Perth and they would be exposed if they were off their game.

Two minutes into the game and it was clear the coach knew what he was talking about, with the Bombers clearly off their game as a flat looking group struggled to get their hands on the ball, spraying kicks when they did.

The Eagles were making it hard for them, ramping up their pressure and racing to an early lead as Waterman marked everything that came his way and booted four first-quarter goals.

At the other end of the ground, McGovern had 11 disposals and was an intercepting force in his first game back from a groin injury as the Eagles won their second quarter for the season and took a 22-point lead into the first break.

The Bombers needed someone to stand up and Wright delivered, kicking back-to-back goals early in the second term to cut the margin to 17 points before Dylan Shiel made it three in a row for the visitors.

The Eagles continued to find big efforts though, with Harry Edwards putting his body on the line to save a goal, Brady Hough winning a big contested ball on the wing, and Jack Hutchinson laying several crunching tackles.

Essendon's midfield advantage became more obvious as the game wore on, but back-to-back goals from Jayden Hunt and returning midfielder Elijah Hewett restored a 25-point lead halfway through the third quarter.

Midfielder/forward Archie Perkins made a vital cameo for the visitors, however, kicking two goals in two minutes to launch a four-goal run that tied scores at the final change.

WA-product Nic Martin gave the Bombers their first lead of the night when he converted a set shot early in the fourth quarter, but ruckman Draper was limping from the ground as his kick sailed through in a worrying sign for the visitors.

Draper's highs and low
After an ACL injury to big man Nick Bryan last week, Sam Draper carried the ruck load and was influential for the first three quarters, leading a midfield that controlled stoppages. His big moment came late in the third term when he took a mark inside 50 and lined up to snap in trademark style from 40m, converting for the seventh time this season from a snapped set shot and shhh-ing the crowd. Then injury struck. Draper pushed off to run early in the fourth quarter and went own immediately with an Achilles tendon injury. He limped off and went straight to the rooms, with the Bombers now sending the big man for scans to confirm the damage.  

High pressure ambush gives Eagles a quarter win
West Coast had won just one quarter this season leading into Friday's clash, and 15 quarters had passed since the team made that fast start against Brisbane at the Gabba in round two. The Eagles were due, and they used tackling pressure and a ferocious attack on the ball as the platform for a competitive start. Harley Reid, who started at the first centre bounce, laid a massive tackle on Sam Durham and he had plenty of mates playing with an intensity yet to be seen from the Eagles this season. Waterman was the man who cashed in on an excellent team approach, kicking four goals and getting the crowd involved early as the Eagles banked their second quarter win for the year. 

Returning Hewett boosts engine room
Young midfielder Elijah Hewett was quiet in the first half in his first game back since suffering a minor calf injury, but he attacked the second half and played some of the best football we have seen from the powerful 20-year-old. The Eagles won the contested ball count (119-117), with Hewett racking up a team-high 12 contested possessions from his 22 touches. He moved well in traffic, showed his explosiveness, and slotted two goals in the second half from 50m out. There have been good signs from young midfielders Tom Gross, Jack Hutchinson so far this season. Hewett joined them as a bright spark on Friday night.

WEST COAST        5.0   7.3   9.7   11.9 (75)
ESSENDON           1.2   4.3   9.7   11.11 (77) 

GOALS 
West Coast: Waterman 4, J.Williams 3, Hewett 2, Cripps, Hunt 
Essendon: Wright 6, Perkins 2, Shiel, Draper, Martin 

BEST
West Coast: Waterman, McGovern, Hewett, J.Williams, Baker, Graham  
Essendon: Wright, Martin, Draper, Merrett, McGrath, Setterfield 

INJURIES
West Coast: Nil 
Essendon: Draper (lower leg), Duursma (ribs) 

SUBSTITUTES
West Coast: Tom Gross (replaced Tyrell Dewar in the fourth quarter) 
Essendon: Saad El-Hawli (replaced Jade Gresham in the third quarter)  

Crowd: 46,080 at Optus Stadium