Essendon's unconvincing season continues, stumbling its way to a 15-point victory over Greater Western Sydney that leaves the Bombers stuck outside the top eight at the halfway mark of the year.
The visitors did just enough to secure an 11.15 (81) to 9.12 (66) victory at Spotless Stadium that improves their record to 6-5 ahead of next week's clash with Melbourne at the MCG.
But the heavy favourites had to scratch and claw all night to get the better of the upstart GIANTS in a performance that does little to indicate they are a genuine finals threat in 2014.
It was an encouraging display from the home side, however, which took another step towards burying the memory of its dreadful defeats to West Coast and Richmond by a combined 224 points.
GWS bounced back from those horror shows with last week's narrow loss to Hawthorn at the MCG, maintaining that type of form with a combative showing on home soil on Saturday night.
The GIANTS threatened a major boilover when they kicked three straight goals midway through the final term to close to within a solitary point.
Yet the Bombers were able to steady and just run out winners, despite a quad injury to skipper Jobe Watson in the final term that is likely to keep him out for around a month.
Despite the nature of the performance, Bombers coach Mark Thompson felt his side was always going to prevail.
"It's just your gut feel for what your players are capable of and what you've seen them do before," he said.
"We would've liked to have been 100 points in front, but we weren’t.
"We have good days and bad days.
"We weren't jumping out of our skin and when that happens, it's good to win still.
"I don't become super critical and over analyse little things."
David Zaharakis was brilliant for Essendon, vying with GWS veteran Heath Shaw for best-on-ground honours.
Watson, Dyson Heppell and Brendon Goddard were also prominent, while Joe Daniher was wasteful in front of goal, finishing with 3.4.
Shaw was outstanding in defence for the home side, with Shane Mumford tireless in the ruck and Callan Ward, Devon Smith, Adam Treloar and Dylan Shiel leading the way through the midfield.
Treloar led the GWS goalkicking with three.
It was a hotly contested game from the opening bounce, with GWS debutant Rory Lobb lining up on 388-gamer Dustin Fletcher in surely one of the biggest disparities in experience the competition has seen.
But the rookie was up for the fight, taking some strong grabs and nailing a set shot with his first kick as the home side got off to a strong start.
Greasy conditions had players regularly losing their footing, but it was a willing opening term, which ended with the Bombers kicking three goals to GWS' two.
There were plenty of turnovers, but both clubs were up for the fight.
GWS kicked the first two goals of the second term to get its nose in front for the first time before the visitors lifted late, taking a 10-point advantage into the main break.
Essendon then managed to lift another notch in the third term, finally earning some scoreboard pressure and taking a 20-point lead into the fourth quarter.
There was some feeling just prior to the penultimate siren, with Davis Myers throwing a cheeky, totally unnecessary elbow at Devon Smith, sparking a melee during the break.
It will get looked at by the Match Review Panel, but Smith did appear to make the most of minimal contact.
The GIANTS then got on a roll early in the fourth quarter as the upset burst into view, yet it was the more experienced Bombers doing just enough to seal the four points.
Afterwards, GWS coach Leon Cameron couldn't fault his side's effort and intent.
"We all want to win games, but as I said to our players after the game, I'd prefer to have effort than composure at this stage," he said.
"It was probably a bit of composure in the last quarter where we were going inside 50 and threatening to take the lead where we needed to make some better decisions.
"But our effort was just first class."
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 2.1 4.4 5.9 9.12 (66)
ESSENDON 3.3 5.8 8.11 11.15 (81)
GOALS
Greater Western Sydney: Treloar 3, Palmer 2, Lobb, Lamb, Smith, Tomlinson
Essendon: Daniher 3, Dell’Olio 2, Zaharakis 2, Howlett, Ryder, Hocking, Stanton
BEST
GWS: Shaw, Mumford, Treloar, Ward, Shiel, Smith
Essendon: Zaharakis, Watson, Heppell, Stanton, Goddard, Daniher
INJURIES
GWS: Hampton (shoulder)
Essendon: Watson (hip)
SUBSTITUTES
GWS: Stephen Coniglio replaced Curtly Hampton in the third quarter.
Essendon: David Myers replaced Dustin Fletcher in thethird quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Farmer, Burgess, Armstrong
Official Crowd: 8,429 at Spotless Stadium
