Evergreen Bombers veteran Dustin Fletcher played his 378th game against West Coast, equalling the club record held by champion ruckman Simon Madden. But the 38-year-old's chances of claiming the record outright next week look doubtful after he was reported for a crude hit on Jamie Cripps during the last quarter. Fletcher jumped from the ground and raised his elbow, collecting Cripps in the head as the Eagle handballed to Josh Hill for an easy goal. Although the Eagle was unhurt, the incident is sure to be looked at closely by the Match Review Panel.

Mark LeCras, who famously booted 12 goals against Essendon in 2010, looked down and out when he crashed to the ground in pain during the second quarter, clutching at his ribs. But the lively forward bravely returned to the field after half-time and proved critical in the Eagles' charge to victory, booting five second-half goals. Essendon, meanwhile, lost its LeCras equivalent, Jason Winderlich, to a hamstring injury during the second quarter and badly missed his presence up forward. 

With the sun making a rare winter's appearance in Melbourne, the AFL made the call to leave the roof open for the early afternoon clash. But the decision drew mixed reviews. While some fans at the ground voiced their approval via Twitter, the complaints from television viewers struggling to see the ball as it flew between light and shade came just as thick. And the players appeared to have their own battles with the sunlight too, particularly during the second quarter as it shone directly into the faces of those facing the Footscray end.

James Hird has continued to face enormous pressure and scrutiny as an outcome to the investigation into the Bombers' 2011-12 supplements regime draws near. But throughout the saga he has retained the faith of the club's fans, who displayed another strong show of support on Sunday. When Hird left the coaches' box near the end of the first quarter and made his way onto the field, he received a huge ovation from the 32,000-strong predominantly red and black-clad crowd. 

West Coast key forward Josh Kennedy started the afternoon level with Hawthorn's Jarryd Roughead on 59 goals for the season, and managed to retake the Coleman Medal lead outright, but not by much. In a quiet afternoon, the stutter-stepping key forward kicked only one goal.