A CAREER-HIGH five goals from Kyle Langford has seen Essendon pull away from a determined Gold Coast to record a 28-point win.

With scores locked at 72-apiece at three-quarter time, the Bombers added 5.6 to 1.2 in the final term to finish with a 16.12 (108) to 11.14 (80) victory and consign the Suns to a 0-2 start to the year.

BOMBERS v SUNS Full match coverage and stats

The see-sawing affair saw the lead change eight times, and both sides fielded shorter line-ups, having brought in smaller forwards for late withdrawal Sam Weideman (toe) and the dropped Mabior Chol.

08:21

Highlights: Essendon v Gold Coast

The Bombers and Suns clash in round two

Published on Mar 26, 2023

It made for a pacy game on the quick deck of Marvel Stadium, with both sides favouring handball receives after marks.

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The Bombers kicked nine goals straight against the Hawks last week, but it took nearly 20 minutes to record their first against the Suns, coming from the boot of Dylan Shiel after the visitors had dominated play early.

Shiel followed up half a second before the quarter-time siren with an impressive dribbler, to give the Bombers an unlikely two-point lead.

00:24

Spectacular Shiel kicks Bombers in front

Dylan Shiel puts through this ripping goal from the boundary line to give his side the quarter-time advantage

Published on Mar 26, 2023

Both sides showed exciting passages of play throughout the game, but often struggled with their skills entering inside 50, making poor choices or not pulling that inside-50 kick fast enough.

05:48

The 10: Round two's best moments

Watch the best highlights from an eventful round of footy

Published on Mar 26, 2023

Zach Merrett (31 disposals) traditionally saves his best footy for Gold Coast, and it was no exception in round two, providing plenty of driving run through the ground, while Darcy Parish (30, 11 clearances) did the work at the coalface.

Zach Merrett in action during Essendon's round two match against Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium on March 26, 2023. Picture: Getty Images

The Suns had plenty of opportunities in front of goal, but the majority of their behinds came from snapped shots, rather than a steady mark approach.

Touk Miller (31) and Matt Rowell (22 and 10 clearances) were typically prolific, while Joel Jeffrey was a constant threat across half-forward, and rucks Sam Draper and Jarrod Witts had an intriguing battle.

00:36

Super Sexton puts Suns back in front

Alex Sexton continues the see-sawing nature of the match with this snapping goal giving his side back the lead

Published on Mar 26, 2023

Brandon Zerk-Thatcher made a desperate and important lunge to touch an Alex Sexton shot at goal halfway through the fourth term, but his day ended early after rolling his right ankle outwards.

01:01

Zerk-Thatcher carried off with ankle injury

Brandon Zerk-Thatcher appears to injure his ankle during this incident late in the final term

Published on Mar 26, 2023

Bombers' forward line answer
Essendon went into the game without spearheads Peter Wright (shoulder), Weideman and Jake Stringer (VFL), and there was intrigue as to where the goals would come from. Enter 26-year-old Langford, who often played as the deepest forward against Ballard, with Harrison Jones dragging Sam Collins further afield. After 10 goals from nine games last year, Langford booted five from 14 disposals and seven marks.

01:59

Langford's high-five outing ends up burning Suns

Kyle Langford passes with flying colours in a deep forward role, notching an impressive bag of five goals

Published on Mar 26, 2023

Subs make immediate impact
Former Essendon skipper Dyson Heppell was subbed off towards the tail end of the third term after 14 touches, with Matt Guelfi unleashed to inject a spark, with the Suns following suit a minute after, with Alex Sexton replacing Brayden Fiorini. Guelfi immediately drew a 50m penalty and goal for his team after a brain-fade overreaction from Charlie Ballard, while the Suns responded through a Sexton snap just a minute later.

A Wel(ler)come return
The dashing Lachie Weller made an impressively quick return from a torn ACL, suffered in early June last year. The Sun finished with 24 disposals from 77 per cent game time, playing primarily off half-back, and showed he hadn't lost any speed after the serious injury. If the Suns are to push for finals, they need Weller to be at his best.

Lachie Weller in action during the round two match between Essendon and Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium on March 26, 2023. Picture: Getty Images

ESSENDON        3.4     7.6     11.6     16.12     (108)
GOLD COAST     3.2     6.6     10.12     11.14      (80)

GOALS
Essendon: Langford 5, Shiel 2, Menzie 2, Guelfi 2, A. Davey, Perkins, Martin, Phillips, Setterfield,
Gold Coast: Casboult 2, King 2, Lukosius, Hollands, Jeffrey, Ainsworth, Fiorini, Witts, Sexton

BEST
Essendon: Merrett, Langford, Redman, Parish, Setterfield, Shiel
Gold Coast: Miller, Rowell, Weller, Collins, Jeffrey

INJURIES
Essendon: Zerk-Thatcher (right ankle)
Gold Coast: Nil

LATE CHANGES
Essendon: Sam Weideman (toe) replaced in selected side by Massimo D'Ambrosio
Gold Coast: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Essendon: Matt Guelfi (replaced Heppell in the third quarter)
Gold Coast: Alex Sexton (replaced Fiorini in the third quarter)

Crowd: 32,915 at Marvel Stadium