Western Bulldogs stars Luke Darcy and Robert Murphy made successful returns in Saturday’s NAB Challenge match at Skilled Stadium, giving the club plenty of cause for optimism.

The Bulldogs won the match 15.12 (102) to 13.13 (91).

More importantly, Darcy made it through his first match since round six, 2005, when he sustained the first of two serious knee injuries, coincidentally at the same ground.

Murphy also coped well with his first game since injuring his knee in round nine last season.

While neither player made a huge impact and both spent large periods on the bench, there were some promising signs.

Murphy kicked two goals, including a beauty with his first touch of the game, when he goaled off a step from about 45 metres.

Darcy spent time in the ruck and up forward as well as drifting back to be a loose man in defence at times, gathering 12 disposals, four marks and 10 hitouts.

"You could tell he was rusty at times, he had a couple of possessions early, but I thought in the last half he really started to run and run well," Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade said of Darcy.

"He's pulled up pretty well so his fitness is okay so that was a plus."

"Murph pulled up well, he played the amount of game time that we wanted him to play."

Adam Cooney slotted straight into form for the Bulldogs in his first match for the year, while fellow youngster Farren Ray was also in good touch in the midfield, as were Daniel Cross and Daniel Giansiracusa, who kicked three goals.

Ex-West Coast big man Andrew McDougall continued to show promise, while former Brisbane Brownlow medallist Jason Akermanis showed glimpses of his class.

The one negative note for the Bulldogs was a corked thigh to young midfielder Shaun Higgins, but he should be okay to play next week.

The Bombers also had reasons to smile, with full-forward Matthew Lloyd bagging seven goals.

A minute's silence was held before the game and all players wore black armbands in honour of former AFL chairman Ron Evans, who passed away on Friday.

WESTERN BULLDOGS 4.3 8.6 12.10 15.12 (102)

ESSENDON 2.6 5.9 9.12 13.13 (91)

GOALS: Western Bulldogs: D Giansiracusa 3 R Murphy 2 B Johnson 2 M Robbins 2 W Skipper 2 A Cooney J Akermanis W Minson A McDougall. ESSENDON: M Lloyd 7 A Davey 2 S Gumbleton J Hird L Jetta K Bradley.

BEST: Western Bulldogs: A Cooney F Ray D Giansiracusa D Cross J Akermanis C White. ESSENDON: M Lloyd J Hird A Davey M Johnson M McVeigh S Laycock.

INJURIES: Western Bulldogs. S Higgins (corked thigh). Essendon: Nil.

REPORTS: Nil.

UMPIRES: B Rosebury C Kamolins L Farmer M Lee-Archer.

CROWD: About 4000 at Skilled Stadium.