A stunning first-quarter blitz by Essendon has set up a dominant 70-point AFL win over lacklustre Port Adelaide on Saturday night.
The fired-up Bombers slammed through the first six goals of the contest to lead by 39 points at the first break before going on to record a 19.17 (131) to 8.13 (61) win in front of 34,022 fans at Etihad Stadium.
Essendon had winners across the ground in an impressive performance which squared their season's ledger at six wins and six losses.
A fortnight after he was lambasted for a goalless effort against Richmond, Cale Hooker kicked five goals as Essendon won the inside 50 count for just the second time this season.
Joe Daniher and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti capitalised on the extra midfield supply with four goals apiece.
Zach Merrett (38 disposals), Dyson Heppell (34) and Jobe Watson (30) provided the midfield grunt as the Bombers dominated the possession count 446-361.
Port spearhead Charlie Dixon kicked four goals in last week's win over Hawthorn, but was held goalless by Bombers fullback Michael Hartley.
The Power were looking to climb into the top four with a win but couldn't match the energy of Essendon, who forced repeated turnovers then opened up their opposition with slick ball movement.
In some small consolation, Port won the third quarter after Essendon led by 52 points at halftime.
But Watson kicked his first goal since round nine of the 2015 season to start the final term and McDonald-Tipungwuti kicked a goal of the year contender as the Bombers piled on the pain.
Justin Westhoff was the leading possession winner for the Power with 33, while Robbie Gray kicked three goals.
Essendon go into their bye round right in the top-eight mix after what coach John Worsfold agreed was his side's most complete performance of the season.
"To get off to a great start and then maintain that intensity for four quarters ... it's definitely the best in that regard," the coach said.
"There have been some good challenges for us this year and I'm rapt with the way everyone has attacked those challenges.
"We've certainly seen pretty good form over the last five weeks building up to tonight, which was our best form."
Port coach Ken Hinkley was shocked at the effort of his players in the loss that saw their record slip to six wins and five losses.
"We were shown up in all parts of the game tonight ... that's the first time this year we've let ourselves down terribly," he said.
"Essendon were pretty good but we didn't offer much resistance.
"From our point of view it's just so far away from what we've been ... tonight we got a real big wake-up call."
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