1. A rags-to-riches opening
After 12 frustrating minutes, Essendon led 0.3 to 0.2, as numerous disposals missed their targets. There were a couple of posters and Bomber sharpshooter Stewart Crameri muffed a regulation chance when he took a bounce and overran the ball. However, Essendon went from listless to electric, piling on the seven goals in 13 minutes, including two apiece to Crameri, Michael Hurley and Patrick Ryder, to open up a 45-point lead. Dons skipper Jobe Watson amassed 14 of his 30 touches in the first term. At quarter-time, Dogs coach Brendan McCartney was more animated than at any other stage this season, and coached the rest of the match from the bench.
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2. Inside knowledge but outside running
Four Bulldogs had inside knowledge of the Bombers. Last year, McCartney was an assistant coach under James Hird at Essendon, while Shannon Grant coached the club's VFL affiliate Bendigo, where current Dogs - ruckman Tom Campbell and goalsneak Tory Dickson - starred. Having the knowledge is one thing, but acting upon it as another entirely, as this quartet found against their former mates. Campbell started in attack and kicked the first goal of his AFL career, while Dickson went goalless in a quiet night.
3. A willful return for Minson
Will Minson emerged from the doghouse after a club-imposed one-match suspension for using insulting language towards Port Adelaide's Danyle Pearce and was one of the few Bulldogs to have an impact, with an equal game-high 18 hit-outs, 14 disposals and three goals. Despite giving away a 50-metre penalty early, Minson kicked his battling team's first two goals - the first after a contested mark in the dying stages of the opening term, and the second after marking unattended midway through the second quarter.
4. The milestone men
Shaun Higgins played his 100th game for the Bulldogs and Jake Melksham his 50th for Essendon. Accordingly, both were afforded tributes on their respective club banners, but from 20 minutes into the match it was clear Melksham would be the one with extra reason to celebrate the occasion. The young Bomber contributed to the rout, drilling a goal off two steps late in the first term and adding another beauty late in the final quarter. Higgins hasn’t had any luck in his milestone games - the Dogs also lost on his debut and 50th game.
5. Dons' dominance and Dogs' despair at Docklands
The Bombers have now won 13 of their past 15 games at Etihad Stadium, including their past three over the Bulldogs by considerable margins - 55 and 49 points last year and 84 points this time. In contrast, the Dogs have won just two of their past eight games under the roof. In the process, the Bombers were presented with the EJ Whitten Cup - named in honour of the late Bulldogs legend - which they have now won 10 times to the Dogs' seven, with one draw in 2002.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
