Essendon look like an AFL team whose resolve has finally cracked after West Coast out-ran the Bombers to upset them by 53 points at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

The 18.12 (120) to 9.13 (67) defeat was Essendon’s third-straight loss amid strong speculation the club is only a day or two away from learning of severe AFL punishments over the supplements scandal.

The league could strip Essendon of their premiership points.

The Bombers players have been outstanding in dealing with the strain of the crisis since the club came under investigation on February 5.

But after heavy losses to Hawthorn and Collingwood, Essendon couldn’t match it with the Eagles in an error-riddled game and dropped away horribly in the last quarter.

Adding to a bad day, Essendon veteran Dustin Fletcher appears certain to be charged for high contact with Eagles utility Jamie Cripps in the last quarter.

It was Fletcher’s 378th senior game, equalling Simon Madden’s club record.

By contrast, this was West Coast’s best win this season.

They started the round 11th, three games outside the top eight.

Eagles forward Mark LeCras returned from having his ribs crunched in the second term to star with five second-half goals.

West Coast midfielder Matt Priddis starred, picking up 28 disposals.

The tone was set in the first three minutes when Andrew Gaff was paid a free kick immediately after the opening bounce and goalled after receiving a 50m penalty.

Josh Hill was then awarded a goal from a contentious video review to give the Eagles the early break.

Essendon hit back immediately to lead by seven points, but West Coast dominated the end of the first term and should have been further ahead than three points.

The two teams went goal-for-goal in the second term as Essendon and West Coast players constantly turned the ball over.

ABC commentator Josh Fraser summed up the first half perfectly when he described it as “junk footy”.

Essendon forward Jason Winderlich, who sparked his team with two first-term goals, was subbed out of the game in the second term because of a hamstring injury.

After Essendon small forward Alwyn Davey handballed through a point for his team – he was trying to find Nick Kommer and missed him – West Coast kicked three goals to open up the game.

The Bombers briefly fought back, but the Eagles closed out the quarter with another three goals to lead by 21 points at the last change.

Essendon’s Brendon Goddard kicked the first goal of the final term to briefly keep it interesting, but from there the Eagles ran riot.

Michael Hibberd and Dyson Heppell were best for Essendon.