Brad Scott did not have to look far on Friday night for the side he wants Essendon to be.

The jury is still out if Sydney are truly back despite all but securing the minor premiership, but the Swans are everything the Bombers are not: clean, efficient and up for the fight when the going gets tough.

Logan McDonald of the Swans and Jayden Laverde of the Bombers contest the ball.Credit: Getty Images

Attended by a surprisingly low crowd of 33,830, many of whom were gone well before the final siren, this match encapsulated why the Bombers will go a 20th consecutive season without winning a final.

Scott does not want to compare this year to last, but the common thread is they have faded alarmingly; 12 months by losing seven of their last 10, this time eight of their last 11.

In the half they had total control of, they won by just seven points. In the half they lost control, they were outscored by nearly eight goals. When both sides were under pressure, the Swans were the team that “put the overalls on”, as their coach John Longmire said.

Last week, the Dons lost through their wastefulness in front of goal. This time, they could not get in front of goal........

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