Promising forward Josh Jenkins provided a few highlights in an otherwise disappointing night for Adelaide at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.

Like a number of his teammates, Jenkins started slowly against his former club but was a chief instigator in Adelaide’s comeback.

The powerful 198cm, 104kg, athlete kicked three second-half goals including one of the goals of the season from a centre bounce in the third quarter. During a stint in the ruck, Jenkins grabbed the ball out of the centre clearance and burst towards Adelaide’s goal. He took several strides and then, at full speed, set sail with a long bomb from inside the centre square, which cleared the goal line.

Coach Brenton Sanderson said not many players let alone ruckmen would be capable of such a goal.

“That goal out of the centre bounce was pretty special … especially for a ruckman,” he said.

“It was Nic Naitanui style.”

The former basketballer’s third goal, where he outmanoeuvred Bombers champion and ex-teammate Dustin Fletcher, in the opening minute of the final quarter cut the margin to nine points. His fourth was another long bomb after receiving a quick handball from Eddie Betts.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough as the Crows fell nine points short of the Bombers.

Jenkins has kicked 26 goals in 11 games this season, eclipsing his 2013 tally of 24 (from 18 games).

Sanderson said the 25-year-old, who has only played 39 AFL games, was making steady improvement.

“Josh is still very much learning. He comes from a basketball background and hasn't played a lot of footy. He still does some things in games where he shake our heads, but to his credit he hit the scoreboard tonight,” Sanderson said.

“Josh is going to be a really important player for us. He's still very raw and inexperienced, but he's leading our goalkicking this year.”

Jenkins finished the game with four goals from nine disposals and two marks.

The ex-Bombers rookie, who joined Adelaide ahead of the 2012 season, was happy with his scoreboard return but not his consistency across the four quarters.

“I didn't influence the game as much as I would've liked, so to take my chances in front of goal was pleasing,” he said.

The Crows played catch-up footy all night after conceding seven of the first eight goals of the game.

The margin swelled to 36 points early in the third quarter. Adelaide piled on the next five goals to claw back to within nine points, but a controversial goal to Ben Howlett early in the fourth quarter restored Essendon’s 15-point lead.

Replays showed Howlett’s remarkable shot from the boundary skimmed the post, but scoring officials said there was insufficient evidence to review or overturn the decision.

Jenkins was at the opposite end of the ground at the time and said the Adelaide forwards pleaded with the goal umpire to call a score review.

“We tried to alert the umpire at our end, but it's up to the fourth umpire or whoever adjudicates that to call and there wasn't enough evidence to overturn it,” Jenkins said.

“I'm glad it wasn't a four or five-point game because it probably would've been a big talking point, but that's not what cost us the game.”

The Bombers kicked two more quick goals to stretch their lead to 27 points before the Crows came again. The visitors ran out the game strongly, kicking three goals to get back within nine points, but ran out of time.

“Essendon is a quality side with some extremely good players. They showed that early in the game and got off to a great start. I think they kicked eight goals straight (without miss). After giving them that sort of start, we were always going to have our work cut out to catch them,” Jenkins said.

“We've played some good footy in second halves this year. We thought we had the capability to come back and win the game. We probably still had our chances but credit to Essendon; they were good enough to hang on.”

The loss puts Adelaide two wins outside the top eight in 11^th spot on the AFL ladder.

Jenkins said it was another opportunity lost for the inconsistent Crows, who face Port Adelaide in Balfours Showdown XXXVII on Sunday afternoon.

“We've played some really good footy at times and some poor footy as well. We've had three or four chances to back up from a good performance and we haven't been able to do so,” Jenkins said.

“It's crucial we stay buoyant and enthusiastic about what we're doing. There's still such a long way to go in the season. The energy levels will be low today and tomorrow, but we've got the Showdown this week and the whole city will ignite for that.

“Not many sides have been able to stop Port this year. We know we match up well with them … Showdowns are a different game of footy. If we can get ourselves involved in the contest from the get-go and not give up a start we know we'll be there abouts.”