ESSENDON 1.4.2 2.9.2 2.10.10 2.11.16 (100)   BRISBANE 1.2.2 1.5.4 2.5.6 2.8.7 (73)   Goals: Essendon: Nine-point goals: K Reimers N Lovett-Murray. Goals: D Hille 3 D Peverill 2 N Lovett-Murray S Lonergan A Monfries P Ryder C Johns J Johnson.   Brisbane: Nine-point goals: J Brennan 2. Goals: L Henderson 3 T Notting 2 H Kiel 2 J Brennan.   Best: Essendon: D Hille R Dyson J Nash J Laycock.    Brisbane: L Power C Stiller T Johnstone J Brennan. Umpires: M Avon J Schmitt S Wenn.
Crowd: 10,078 at Gold Coast Stadium.

The GOLD COAST showed it had not lost its appetite for AFL football despite its rejection by the Kangaroos, with over 10,000 fans turning out to see Essendon defeat the Brisbane Lions by 32 points in greasy conditions at here last night.

With both teams missing many of their biggest stars, the Bombers looked more up for the pre-season contest and reaped the benefits of a more attacking and confident brand of football, with David Hille kicking three goals and Damien Peverill two.

Young players Bachar Houli and Jay Nash dominated possession for Essendon and looked to have stepped up their games over the summer. Courtney Dempsey and Sam Lonergan also had fine matches.

For the Lions, Travis Johnstone gave the Lions some badly needed silk in a midfield missing prime mover Simon Black, while second-year player Albert Proud - playing with a black armband to mark the passing of his mother two weeks ago - played with verve.

In the coach's box, Matthew Knights chalked up his first win in command of the Bombers, while Lions assistant Justin Leppitsch, promoted for this game only, must await his next opportunity.

The Bombers were sent off to a flyer courtesy of the umpires with a Peverill goal from a 50-metre penalty.

Jared Brennan responded for the Lions with a super goal, but goals to young players Kyle Reimers and Lonergan gave Essendon the early advantage.

Stocky Lion rookie Haydn Kiel got one back for the Lions from a good intercept from 40 metres, but Nathan Lovett-Murray threaded through a goal to maintain the Bombers' advantage going into quarter-time.

Lachie Henderson, the Lions' first-round draft pick, gave plenty, marking and coolly bending through a goal from the boundary early in the second quarter and taking a fine goal-square mark for a second on the siren.

In between, however, it was all Essendon. Hille was exploiting the inexperience of rookie Lions ruckman Joel Tippett, drifting forward to kick three in the first half.

When Angus Monfries capitalised on a goal-square error by Josh Drummond, the Essendon was out to a 26-point lead.

Further goals to Patrick Ryder and Courtney Johns took the game beyond the Lions' reach and suggested that while the Bombers might be young, they would not be caught short for size in 2008.

Johns, in particular, looks an intimidating unit.

The Lions came out with greater purpose after the break but sprayed several opportunities to get themselves back in the game until Brennan kicked his second super goal for the night. However, Peverill replied with his second for Essendon and when Kiel missed an opportunity to slot his second at three-quarter-time, the Lions faced a 33-point deficit turning for home.

Kiel made amends with his second goal early in the last and Brennan got on the end of a clever kick from Henderson, but Essendon remained firmly in charge.

From that point, both sides lost their radar - and the game a little of its impetus - as late showers swept across the ground.

The Bombers cruised through to the second round of the NAB Cup. They will meet the Western Bulldogs at Telstra Dome on Friday.

Coleman medallist Jonathan Brown was fit but rested by Brisbane coach Leigh Matthews as a precaution given the key forward's horror luck with injury.