The Bombers won 23.7 (145) to 16.11 (107).
The Power, who went into the game on a six-match winning streak, courtesy of their Ansett Cup success and a first round win over the Lions, were no match for the all-conquering Bombers, who had the luxury of resting several of their stars on the bench in the final quarter.
Essendon captain James Hird starred in the first half with three goals, and with the Bombers in command by 55 points, joined Dustin Fletcher, Justin Blumfield and Dean Rioli (injured) on the interchange bench at the start of the last quarter.
The Power’s 79-point victory over the Bombers in the first round of the Ansett Cup was nothing but a distant memory, as Essendon’s superior class shone through. The Power struggled to take an overhead mark in attack, as key Bomber defenders Fletcher and Sean Wellman dominated.
Port gave the result a bit more respectability by outscoring Essendon seven goals to five in a lacklustre final term.
Bombers' coach Kevin Sheedy was disappointed with his side's last quarter, saying they had blown some good form early in the game. "It (the last term) was really disappointing because we had a very good lead and we allowed them to kick too many easy goals, even though we had a few players off the ground," he said.
"We could have been better in the midfield ... to blow it out to 16 goals or whatever was very annoying. Some players have had three or four goals kicked on them, so what happens then is you have a game or two like that and you don't end up in the side."
Port coach Mark Williams was not satisfied, but was pleased his team did not give up. "To kick over 100 points at Colonial was one advance over where we've been before and to kick that against Essendon was quite good, " he said. "To the credit of our guys, I thought they fought it out well."
The Bombers kicked six unanswered goals in the first term, a brace of three in the second, and then five in a row in the third, as they seemed to move into top gear whenever Port made a challenge.
It was also Essendon's first home game of the season and its 2000 premiership flag was unfurled in a low-key ceremony as the players warmed up before the game.
Hird started in attack, then spent some time in the middle. His third goal just before half-time summed up his night - pressured by a Port defender, he calmly scooped up the ball, blind-turned and snapped through the middle as if he was having fun at training.
Although he spent some time on the bench in the first half, Essendon wingman Mark McVeigh also performed well in surely his best senior game yet and finished with three goals.
Stuart Dew kicked six goals for Port, including a booming shot from outside 50 metres in the last term, and Che Cockatoo-Collins scored four to dominate their side's scoring.
Cockatoo-Collins snapped a great goal in the second term even though his pants were nearly down around his knees, courtesy of an opponent's tackle. He celebrated the score with a victory dance that would have done justice to a touchdown scorer in an American gridiron game.
Midfielder Josh Francou and captain Matthew Primus worked hard for the Power, while defender Adam Kingsley achieved the difficult task of shutting down Essendon utility Mark Mercuri.
Essendon will probably miss Rioli for at least two games with a hamstring injury, while Port could have to do without midfielder Josh Francou for next week's local derby against Adelaide.
Francou was booked in the third quarter for allegedly striking Essendon veteran Michael Long.
ESSENDON 7.4 11.6 18.7 23. 7 (145)
PORT ADELAIDE 3.1 6.4 9.6 16.11 (107)
Goals: Essendon: M Lloyd 4 J Hird 3 M McVeigh 3 B Caracella 2 D Fletcher 2 S Lucas S Wellman D Jacobs D Solomon J Barnes A Ramanauskas P Barnard S Alessio M Johnson. Port Adelaide: S Dew 6 C Cockatoo-Collins 4 W Tredrea 3 R James J Carr J Francou.
Best: Essendon: J Hird M McVeigh D Fletcher S Wellman B Caracella J Misiti. Port Adelaide: S Dew C Cockatoo-Collins J Francou R Kingsley M Primus.
Injuries: Essendon: D Rioli (hamstring). Port Adelaide: M Wilson (knock to head).
Reports: J Francou (Port Adelaide) reported by field umpire J Schmitt for striking M Long (Essendon) during the third quarter.
Umpires: D Goldspink, D Morris, J Schmitt.
Official crowd: 34,918 at Colonial Stadium.
