Essendon's AFL season is on the brink of collapse after a 32-point loss to the Western Bulldogs, their sixth defeat in the opening seven rounds.
Out-of-contract star Josh Dunkley was best afield for the Bulldogs with 29 disposals and two goals in their 16.7 (103) to 10.11 (71) win on Sunday at Marvel Stadium.
Dunkley stood tall in a dominant midfield, with a support cast featuring Jack Macrae and Bailey Smith, that generated a 66-39 landslide in forward entries.
It gave their dangerous forward line more than enough chances to post a winning score as Lachie McNeil (three goals), Robbie McComb, Mitch Wallis and Cody Weightman (two each) spread the load.
After being heavily criticised for their defensive work rate in recent weeks, the Bombers were sliced apart far too easily and conceded their third triple-figure score of the year.
They laid 52 tackles - an increase on their lowly season average of 41 - but it wasn't enough.
Zach Merrett (36) and Darcy Parish (32) racked up disposals and Mason Redman (29) fought well in a losing cause, while Peter Wright finished with four goals.
Axed midfielder Dylan Shiel was given a selection reprieve as the medical substitute and had 11 disposals after replacing Nic Cox (calf) at halftime.
The Bombers, who take on Hawthorn in round eight, recovered from a 2-6 start last season to play finals.
But it's hard to see Ben Rutten's struggling side being able to plug their leaky defence and engineer a similar turnaround this time around.
An emotional Wallis kicked the Bulldogs' first two goals and gave a nod to the heavens after a traumatic period that included his mother-in-law's shock death and the birth of his second child.
It was a tight start but the Dogs opened up a 22-point break before halftime on the back of five consecutive goals.
Shiel entered the fray at he start of the third quarter and had five disposals within a minute but the Bulldogs answered every challenge Essendon threw at them.
They piled on seven goals in the third term to build a match-winning 36-point lead by the final change and were never challenged from there.
Wallis was substituted out of the game during the final quarter with a foot injury and Essendon kicked the last three goals of the game to hide some of their pain.
