1. Throughout the first half of the 2021 campaign, one of the most consistent attributes the Eagles have been able to count on has been the capacity to mark the ball inside the attacking 50 metre arc. But against the Bombers they could clunk only seven marks inside 50 compared to Essendon’s 13. Goalkicking great Josh Kennedy took three of those and capped his work off with three goals. The inside 50 count was also lost 45 to 57, which has not been uncommon, but this time the forwards could not conjure a winning score.

2. Clearly the most obvious bonus of the 16-point loss to Essendon was the performance of Elliot Yeo. In his first senior match for more than nine months, Yeo took a little time to adjust to the tempo but produced some of his trademark traits as he did all he was able to try to lift his team to victory. The inside bull had 14 possessions and four marks, was involved in 13 pressure acts, sent the ball inside 50 seven times and racked up five clearances in an eye-catching return.

02:27

Yeo post-match vs Bombers

Eagles Media talks to the recently returned Elliot Yeo after a heartbreaking loss to the Bombers

3. The connection between ruckman Nic Naitanui and midfield vacuum Tim Kelly has been building over the last season and a half and they have been on the same wavelength in the last seven or eight weeks in particular. They were again on song before Kelly hurt his knee early in the second term, having already racked up three clearances and almost half of his 11 disposals were contested. Naitanui battled along without his cohort and continued his impressive run of form. Of his 20 possessions, 17 were contested, he had seven clearances, and 40 hit outs in another wonderful contribution.

4. The defensive unit did well at times when under siege from a wave of Essendon forward 50 entries, but they eventually succumbed. Regardless, premiership defenders Shannon Hurn and Tom Barrass stood firm, both offering strong direction in the back half. Tom Cole and Brad Sheppard also offered resistance, but the momentum swing from the middle stages of the third quarter proved overwhelming.

07:57

Highlights: Eagles v Bombers

The best moments from Saturday night's game at Optus Stadium

5. The three premier Essendon midfielders, Darcy Parish, Andy McGrath and Zac Merrett wielded a great influence over the result. Parish and McGrath both gained more than 500 metres with the ball in their hands. Of his 36 possession, Parish had 17 contested touches and 11 clearances. Of McGrath’s 24 touches, 12 of them were contested and Merrett was a constant nuisance with his 37 possessions.