The Bombers kicked 10.12 (72) to the Tigers' 16.14 (110), for their sixth straight loss and fifth in six matches against Richmond.
Although Essendon booted eight goals to six in the second half to have the better of Richmond, the Dons were extremely disappointing before the main break.
Richmond set up the victory with eight unanswered goals from the start of the match until Essendon skipper Matthew Lloyd opened his side's account at the 12-minute mark of the second term. The Tigers were so dominant to half time they had booted 10 goals to two.
It wasn't until Mark McVeigh kicked the final goal of the first half and Jay Neagle posted the first after the long break that Essendon recorded back-to-back goals for the match. In fact, the Dons showed some genuine grit to post five consecutive majors from that point.
During that period Essendon cut the margin back to 26 points, but when Richmond hit back with two in quick succession, the deficit was again out to 38 points.
Essendon ruckman David Hille was mighty in the second half and finished with 38 hit-outs and 17 disposals. Skipper Matthew Lloyd ended with a game-high four goals and Jobe Watson was his side's leading ball-winner with 20 touches.
Richmond's Nathan Foley won the Yiooken Award as the best player on the ground – his 32 disposals continuing his fine recent form.
Essendon, held goalless in its final quarter against Sydney last round, continued this unfortunate trend in Saturday night's opening quarter.
As Richmond piled on five goals, the Dons registered five behinds; the result was a 28-point advantage to the Tigers at quarter time.
Three more from Richmond early in the second term resulted in a 48-point lead, until Lloyd finally posted the Dons' first. Remarkably, it was the red and black's first major since the 16-minute mark of the third term against Sydney last round.
By half time the Dons had just two goals, while Richmond had 10 and a 50-point lead.
Not surprisingly, the statistics were overwhelming in favour of the Tigers; Richmond won 217 disposals to 126, claimed 73 marks to 20 and sent the ball inside 50 on 27 occasions to 17.
Just as Richmond looked set to smash it greatest winning margin over Essendon – a 74-point margin achieved in 1970 and 1983 – the Bombers hit back with an excellent third term.
The Dons booted six goals to two, reeling the margin back to 26 points at three quarter-time.
But Richmond bounced back with four goals to two in the final term, thwarting any thought of a fairytale win.
Richmond 5.3 10.8 12.10 16.14 (110)
Essendon 0.5 2.6 8.8 10.12 (72)
GOALS
Richmond: Brown 3, Edwards 3, Pettifer 2, Richardson 2, Deledio, Foley, Hyde, Johnson, Richardson, Pattison, White
Essendon: Lloyd 4, Hille, Neagle, McVeigh, Monfries, Nash, Stanton
BEST
Richmond: Foley, Deledio, Brown, Pettifer, White, Edwards, Richardson
Essendon: Hille, Lloyd, Watson
INJURIES
Essendon: Ricky Dyson (suspected appendicitis) replaced in selected side by Jay Nash
Richmond: Graham Polak replaced in selected side by Kayne Pettifer
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Vozzo, Ryan
Official crowd: 60,333 at the MCG
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
