West Coast will be left to rue missed opportunities after inaccuracy cost them a chance to break their hoodoo away from home in a 30-point loss to Essendon at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.

The Eagles appeared on the ropes on several occasions, but to their credit they took the Bombers’ best blows and not only didn’t hit the mat but responded with a few of their own.

Ultimately, it was a lack of polish in front of goals and a five-goal haul from Jake Stringer at the other end that was the difference, as Essendon consolidated a top-four spot with a 19.8 (122) to 13.14 (92) victory.

There were questions around the make-up of the Eagles side heading into the game, with coach Adam Simpson questioned for his decision to play four tall forwards after the return of co-captain Oscar Allen.

Simpson decided to use the absence of first-choice midfielders Tim Kelly (injured) and Harley Reid (suspension) to shuffle the deck.

Forwards Liam Ryan and Tyler Brockman were utilised through the centre bounces to add pace and it worked.

Ryan responded with a career-high 19 disposals and six clearances, running out the front of stoppages, while 196cm forward Ryan Maric (13 disposals) was moved to a wing where he showed composure before he was subbed out late.

Veteran midfielder Elliot Yeo (20 disposals, seven clearances and a goal) looked better for the rest during the bye, while Allen’s return helped spread the Bombers’ defence thin and allowed Jake Waterman (three goals) and Jack Darling (two goals) to have an impact.

Yeo found himself in a battle with Bombers’ midfielder Jye Caldwell, who was unable to beat his more physical opponent in the cotnest but ran off the Eagle every chance he was given to have 26 disposals, 11 tackles and a goal.

Simpson sent second-year midfielder Rueben Ginbey to Essendon captain Zach Merrett (29 disposals) after he kicked a match-winning three goals in their previous encounter this year and while the Bombers was influential, he was nowhere near as destructive as he was at Optus Stadium.

It looked ominous early for the Eagles with the ease that the Bombers kicked their first three goals as the home side glided across the turf under the roof.

West Coast were on top at the clearances, led by Yeo who had five of his seven for the game in the opening term alone, while Tom Barrass shook off two early Peter Wright goals to take four crucial intercept marks.

Up forward, Jake Waterman continued his hot form and could’ve kicked three goals in the first term if he hadn’t hit the post after quarter time to give the visitors the slenderest of leads.

Essendon opened up the game in the second term, exposing the Eagles off turnover, with seven of their 10 first-half goals coming from defensive half transition.

Stringer was the biggest threat, booting three goals for the term to have four before half-time as he mixed his time between the midfield and up forward.

To their credit the Eagles didn’t let the second term woes impact their confidence and a goal to returning Allen not long after half-time lifted their spirits.

West Coast amped up the pressure around the ground and turned the contest into a shootout, with both sides trading blows to not allow the other to get momentum for long.

Late misses to Allan and Darling cost the Eagles a chance to be closer at the final break but they’d had the better of the term.

Even in the final term the Eagles were resolute in defence and wouldn’t allow anything easy to come to the home side.

When Jack Petruccelle kicked his second goal the Eagles were within 13 points and an upset was within reach.

But as they had all day, Essendon responded with a Caldwell goal that came from the next centre clearance, albeit from a dubious Merrett handball.

Essendon kicked three of the last four goals to push the margin out and ensure the Eagles were unable to upset their top-four hopes.

ESSENDON 4.2, 10.4, 14.5, 19.8 (122)

WEST COAST 4.3, 6.5, 11.10, 13.14 (92)

Goals – ESSENDON: J Stringer 5 N Caddy 2 M Guelfi 2 K Langford 2 P Wright 2 J Caldwell S Durham X Duursma D Heppell N Hind Z Merrett. WEST COAST: J Waterman 3 J Cripps 2 J Darling 2 J Petruccelle 2 O Allen C Chesser E Yeo.

Best – ESSENDON: S Durham J Stringer J Caldwell Z Merrett J Laverde J Ridley. WEST COAST: E Yeo L Ryan L Duggan J Waterman J McGovern T Barrass.

Injuries – ESSENDON: T Goldstein (managed) replaced in the selected side by N Caddy.

Umpires: M Nicholls B Hosking N Turner A Gianfagna. Crowd: 40,840 at Marvel Stadium.