Jobe Watson couldn't have scripted a better start to his comeback match. Dyson Heppell won the clearance from the opening bounce and hurried a kick forward, over the head of Watson who had charged into the square from centre-half forward. The Bombers skipper turned and took off, getting on the end of a Jake Melksham handball before steadying and unloading a drilling 50m goal inside 13 seconds. Bombers came from everywhere to get around their leader, who was playing his first game since suffering a hip tendon injury in round 12.

 

The Bombers looked irresistible in the first five minutes, but soon crumbled under the weight of their deplorable foot skills. West Coast took a staggering 19 intercept marks before half-time. On numerous other occasions the Bombers missed targets altogether, or ran directly into an opponent – as Courtenay Dempsey managed in the second quarter. The Eagles couldn't take full toll though, only leading by three points at the first change despite a 22-6 inside 50 count and by 23 points at half-time as the Dons hung in.

 

A forward line boasting Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling as mainstays, with Dean Cox, Nic Naitanui, Scott Lycett and Jeremy McGovern rotating throughout the season is enough to send shivers through opposition coaches' boxes – if the Eagles get it right. In the past three weeks, West Coast has, most of the time. Its midfielders have started lowering their eyes (in the first half at least) and Kennedy, Darling and Lycett have combined for 26 majors in three weeks - six against Essendon. Adding another classy ball-user or two in midfield this off-season should be on the wish list.

 

Joe Daniher has long been talked about as a player of quality – both talent-wise and as a person – so it came as little surprise that the 20-year-old responded to a clip from coach Mark Thompson with a fighting performance. With Jake Carlisle (back) out of the side, Daniher was lucky to be playing against a giant Eagles side. The 201cm youngster never gave in, whether he was playing forward or in the ruck, and collected 10 touches, took four marks and booted 2.1 with 20 hit-outs.

 

Essendon is back on track for finals thanks to its pulsating second-half surge to victory. The Bombers' 11th win moves them up to 7th ahead of eight-placed Adelaide's meeting with Richmond. The equation is simple for the Dons, win their final two games against Gold Coast and Carlton and they will almost certainly make finals. West Coast is now effectively out of the hunt, likely to be two games outside the eight at the end of the round.

 

Twitter: @TravKing_AFL