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Essendon have thrashed West Coast to continue to build their claims as an AFL premiership challenger.
Essendon are fast emerging as contenders in a wide open AFL premiership race after savaging previously unbeaten West Coast 16.17 (113) to 7.10 (52) on Saturday night.
The Bombers leapt into the top two, with only percentage separating them and the Eagles.
Essendon's only loss so far this season was their one-point Anzac Day thriller against Collingwood.
West Coast look like their heavy, star-studded injury toll is starting to hurt, with the 61-point defeat their biggest since late in 2010, when they were wooden spooners.
Essendon led by only three points after the two sides managed just a goal each in the first quarter and edged 17 points clear by the long break.
But the dam wall burst in the third term, the Bombers piling on five goals in a frenetic opening 10 minutes on their way to outscoring the shell-shocked visitors 7.4 to 0.2 for the quarter.
Midfielder David Zaharakis was in career-best form, amassing 32 touches and causing plenty of damage with his pace and spearing kicks while captain Jobe Watson and Brent Stanton (36 disposals each) were typically hard working.
Forward Stewart Crameri (three goals) showed no hint of the knee injury that sent a big scare through the Bomber camp last weekend, with good support from Paddy Ryder (two goals) between stints in the ruck.
Defender Cale Hooker also had a fine game, taking 11 marks to provide significant rebound.
The Eagles attack - missing Josh Kennedy, Mark LeCras, Mark Nicoski, Nic Naitanui and Ashton Hams - failed to fire, although after quarter-time the Bombers' midfield dominance starved them.
Essendon were also missing two key players, Michael Hurley and Tayte Pears, but they were barely missed, the Bombers' ascendancy reaching extreme levels during their early second half burst, with fierce tackling a key.
After Ryder opened the half with a mark and goal, he and Alwyn Davey laid superb tackles to set up a major for Nathan Lovett-Murray.
Crameri kicked the next, after winning a free kick with a ferocious tackle of his own.
Courtenay Dempsey topped those efforts with a brilliant defensive effort to run down Eagles substitute Ryan Neates later in the term, as Essendon refused to give West Coast a sniff.
West Coast's cause was not helped by losing midfield stalwart Matt Priddis, subbed off after a head knock in the second term when his side was still in touch.
Ruckman Dean Cox was clearly the Eagles' best, taking eight marks while having the best of the ruck battles.
Essendon coach James Hird was not getting carried away, saying they played the Eagles at a good time.
"We went into the game understanding they had some significant injuries and were coming off a six-day break and thought we were a chance because of that and I think that's probably helped us," Hird said.
But Eagles coach John Worsfold said that was no excuse.
"I wouldn't say they've taken a toll tonight. I would say we got outplayed tonight," Worsfold said.
"Essendon looked sharper and used the ball better - that was the key."
