Bombers' best season start since 2000
Not since its famous 2000 premiership season has Essendon started a season 4-0. The Bombers' upset 30-point win over Carlton on Saturday was their most impressive of 2012, with the Blues having been installed as one of the premiership favourites after their dominant round three win over Collingwood. Not that form has ever been a reliable guide in Essendon-Carlton games. Since the early 1980s, the underdog has got up with uncommon frequency. It seems a safe bet, though, that the Bombers' 20-0 start to 2000 will be beyond their emerging group in 2012.

Essendon engine room overpowers blue-chip Blues
With Chris Judd, Marc Murphy and co., the Blues boast perhaps the best midfield in the competition. The Bombers, on the other hand, are largely seen to lack onball depth. However, Essendon held sway in the middle against the Blues, with its two best onballers, Brent Stanton and captain Jobe Watson, clearly having more influence than Judd and Murphy. Stanton picked up a game-high 36 possessions, 28 of which were uncontested, and Watson had a game-high 13 clearances, four more than Murphy (six) and Judd (three) combined.

A few good small men
If the Bombers were able to dismantle one of the Blues' greatest strengths in the midfield battle, they did the same in the small forward stakes. While Eddie Betts eventually kicked four goals for the Blues, Kyle Hardingham held him to just one touch in the first half. And Jeff Garlett was held to one goal by evergreen Essendon veteran Dustin Fletcher. In the meantime, their less heralded Essendon counterparts Alwyn Davey (three goals) and Leroy Jetta (equal game-highs of eight tackles and three score assists) gave the Bombers more spark.

Third time lucky for Hampson
Carlton ruckman Shaun Hampson really had to earn his goal at the 25-minute mark of the last quarter. Kicking from the top of the goalsquare, Hampson's first shot sailed through, but an umpire's call for a player to go off under the blood rule meant his shot was disallowed, as was his second when the goal umpire had not been ready. Finally, his third shot was given the all-clear, prompting a Carlton official in the MCG media centre to joke that Hampson's three 'goals' had brought the Blues back into the game.

Carlton's early injuries hurt
In fairness, the Blues' day got off to a shocking start. Defender Jeremy Laidler re-injured the left knee he dislocated in the NAB Cup inside the opening minute, and just minutes later Andrew Carrazzo went off after injuring his right shoulder. Substitute Brock McLean was brought on for Carrazzo at the 13-minute mark of the first quarter, but at about the same time Laidler bravely returned. The Blues desperately missed Carrazzo's ability to shut down elite midfielders as Stanton and Watson dominated, while Laidler's mobility was clearly hampered by his knee for the remainder of the game.

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs