ESSENDON has moved back into the top eight with a win over Gold Coast but missed a golden chance to boost its percentage after a scratchy victory at Metricon Stadium.

The Bombers dominated most areas of the match but couldn't fully capitalise on the scoreboard in their 12.18 (90) to 9.3 (57) victory.

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They have jumped West Coast to move into the top eight and their destiny is now largely in their own hands.

If they defeat Fremantle at Etihad Stadium next Sunday it would go a long way towards securing their spot in the finals.

West Coast (ninth) are almost two percentage points behind Essendon and would need a significantly larger victory over Adelaide at Domain Stadium next Sunday to bundle the Bombers out.

Essendon had to work hard to shake the pesky Suns, who often dropped extra numbers in their defensive 50, but eventually ground their way to victory.

Coach John Worsfold was pleased with the win, but conceded it was frustrating they couldn't score more freely.

"You play into their hands if you miss your easy shots and that was a bit of what we were doing early," Worsfold said.

"It does hurt (percentage), but their accuracy was good for them, but with such a low score percentage-wise that covers off some of our misses. 

"I would've like a couple of goals more margin, but it is what it is."

They led at every change and got a huge contribution from midfielder David Zaharakis, who finished with 38 disposals.

Five talking points: Gold Coast v Essendon

Joe Daniher was blanketed by Suns captain Steven May, kicking just one goal – from a free kick in the final term – to remain four goals behind Eagle Josh Kennedy in the race for the Coleman Medal.

While Daniher struggled, fellow forward James Stewart, Cale Hooker and debutant Josh Begley all kicked two goals, while Brendon Goddard, impressive Andrew McGrath and Mark Baguley were prolific ball winners with 25 disposals apiece.

Essendon had the ball camped in its forward half for most of the game, but took until early in the last quarter to assert any real dominance.

They won the inside 50s by a whopping 71-31, which came on the back of midfield dominance in disposals (418-346), clearances (36-29) and contested ball (147-121).

Gold Coast was far from disgraced though, and despite missing some of its best players through injury – namely Gary Ablett and Tom Lynch – put in one of their most consistent four-quarter efforts for many weeks.

Interim coach Dean Solomon said he had implemented a more defensive gameplan since taking over from Rodney Eade two matches ago.

"We did feel like we frustrated them for a period of time," Solomon said.

"It's a pretty brutal gameplan we're asking of them.

"Clearly we saw a shift tonight. Do we like the end result? No.

"We'd like to be a lot closer, if not won the game, but to be 10 points down at three-quarter time, that's exactly what we wanted to do, we wanted to be in an arm-wrestle and that's what we made it."

May was fantastic, Ben Ainsowrth with three goals showed his enormous potential, and Aaron Hall (31 touches) worked hard.

Begley was living a dream in the first quarter, playing an opening 20 minutes he'll do well to top at any stage in his career.

The teenage forward taken at pick 31 in last year's draft joined the list of players to kick a goal with their first kick in the AFL, but he wasn't stopping there.

With his next two kicks, he set up Stewart with pinpoint passes and moments later bagged his second goal with a towering drop punt from outside 50m.

It was an imperious 10-minute stretch from the 19-year-old.

Gold Coast mixed its team up early on, throwing Jarrod Harbrow forward, Callum Ah Chee back and rotating its small midfielders through the forward line, but it made little difference.

They turned the ball over almost monotonously in the first quarter, but once settling down in the second, snatched the lead after three straight goals.

MEDICAL ROOM
Gold Coast: Ben Ainsworth appeared to roll his ankle during the second quarter and hobbled off in some discomfort. However, the second-year player was back on 10 minutes later and finished the game with three goals to be one of his team's best. 

Essendon: Josh Green limped from the field midway through the final term with a foot injury. He was seen after the game in a moon boot.

NEXT UP
Essendon can go a long way towards wrapping up a finals spot with a victory over Fremantle at Etihad Stadium next Sunday. Gold Coast travels to Adelaide to take on a Port team next that is chasing a top-four position next Saturday night.

GOLD COAST  3.1    6.1   8.1     9.3 (57)
ESSENDON     4.2    6.8   8.11  12.18 (90)

GOALS
Gold Coast: Ainsworth 3, Wright, Martin, Schoenfeld, Swallow, Macpherson, Hallahan
Essendon: Hooker 2, Stewart 2, Begley 2, Green, McKenna, Heppell, Daniher, Parish, McDonald-Tipungwuti

BEST
Gold Coast: May, Hanley, Hall, McKenzie, Swallow
Essendon: Zaharakis, Goddard, Baguley, Kelly, McGrath

INJURIES
Gold Coast: Nil
Essendon: Green (foot)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Foot, Stevic, O'Gorman

Official crowd: 16,817 at Metricon Stadium