A massive seven goal to one 3rd term saw the Bombers, under new coach Matthew Knights, smash North Melbourne by 55 points at the Telstra Dome on Easter Monday.
After being down by 27 points early in the second quarter, the Dons banged on 17 of the last 19 goals to bury the Roos and record their first victory against them since 2001. Mark McVeigh received the first Archer-Hird Medal for his best on ground performance.
The Bombers win was soured by the knee injury to gun forward Scott Lucas. The big man tore his posterior cruciate ligament after a heavy clash and will miss up to 12 weeks.
NORTH MELBOURNE – 4.3 – 6.7 – 7.9 – 9.13 (67)
ESSENDON – 2.0 – 8.2 – 15.5 – 19.8 (122)
GOALS
North: Thompson 4, Thomas 3, Edwards, Petrie
Essendon: Lloyd 6, Lovett-Murray 4, Watson, Ramanauskas, McVeigh, Johnson, Hille, Laycock, Lucas, Davey, Fletcher
BEST
North: Harvey, Thompson, Thomas, Campbell, Power, Swallow
Essendon: Lloyd, Ramanauskas, McVeigh, Michael, Watson, Houli, Lovett-Murray, Hille, McPhee, Davey
INJURIES
North: Jones (cut head)
Essendon: Lucas (knee)
Umpires: Stevic, K Nicholls, McInerney
Reports: Nil
Crowd: 48,100 at Telstra Dome
