Essendon looked like they had turned the corner on Friday night in the opening quarter against premiership hopeful Hawthorn.
A back and forth first term saw nine goals kicked with the Bombers kicking four to the Hawks’ five.
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But that was as good as it got for the Bombers as Hawthorn put the foot down and ran away to register the 21.19 (145) to 13.5 (83) victory.
The one-sided beat down at the MCG raises serious questions about the club’s hope for the season ahead and will leave Zach Merrett wondering what could have been.
Merrett desperately wanted out at the end of last season but a trade to Hawthorn couldn’t be brokered between the teams with the 30-year-old having to return to Essendon and now facing the bleak reality that his career will go on without finals success.
After a seven goal to two second quarter, Melbourne great Garry Lyon was left pondering if anything would change for the club.
“That (first half) encapsulates everything that forced Zach Merrett to make the hardest decision of his footy life and ask for a trade,” Lyon said.
“It was denied and he’s gone back and done exactly the same thing and his football team have done exactly the same thing.
“It’s going to be an interesting watch.”
On multiple occasions throughout the contest on Friday night, the Hawks simply carved their way from the defensive half into their own 50 with ease.
A barrage of players flooded forward as Essendon players were left in their tracks ball watching as the ball flew across the turf.
“I’m just shocked to see four or five loose Hawthorn players in the corridor,” Jason Dunstall said on Fox Footy.
Lyon added: “It’s got a match-sim feeling about it. Merrett has had three touches this quarter.
“It almost seems like he’s gone ‘I’m the highest rated player in the first half and I’ve done everything I can.’
“I know he’s not thinking this, but it’s got a bit of ‘what’s the point?’ about it.”
Former Hawthorn player Jordan Lewis was scathing of the Bombers and the effort they put out in their opening game of the season.
“It was like a training drill at times. Essendon players just looked like cones,” Lewis said.
“How many times did we see Hawthorn players link up through handball or by foot from their D50.”
The victory comes after the Hawks were blown off the park by the Giants in their Opening Round encounter.
GWS proved far too strong as they recorded the 27-point victory. The Hawks can move to 2-1 on the season when they welcome Sydney to the MCG next Thursday.
Essendon will need to bounce back on the road as they venture into Adelaide next Sunday to take on the Power.
