Essendon coach James Hird says the Bombers have developed a killer instinct that allowed them to inflict "mayhem" on Gold Coast for a 139-point win on Sunday.

They launched an AFL record first-quarter blitz in a brutal display at Etihad Stadium.

Essendon were 93 points ahead at quarter-time and went on to win 31.11 (197) to 8.10 (58).

They scored their third win of the year, producing 13 individual goalkickers, including Kyle Reimers who finished with a career-best haul of eight. Angus Monfries and Stewart Crameri each kicked four.

Suns coach Guy McKenna admitted it was "mayhem" for his young side in their debut season.

The Bombers had scored 15.4 (94) by quarter-time, beating the previous record of 13.3 (81) set by Hawthorn against North Melbourne in 1982 and North against Richmond in 1990.

"It'll probably never happen again and we didn't expect it to happen. I suppose you enjoy it," Hird said.

After scoring their first win last weekend against Port Adelaide, the Suns crashed to their worst defeat.

The win put the Bombers on course for a big round-seven clash with modern-day rivals West Coast (3-2) at Etihad Stadium next Sunday.

The Bombers finished 14th in 2010, suffering big defeats, including a 98-point loss to Collingwood and an 84-point thumping against Adelaide.

"You saw the psyche on the guys when they thought they could win by a lot. They were on the other end of this last year and they wanted to hand one out," Hird said.

"The really pleasing thing from our point of view is that they smelled it, they wanted to put the shoe on the other foot and they did it.

"The feeling in our dressing rooms at the moment is really, really good because of that."

Hird said he was disappointed with his side's poor second quarter.

"Human psychology is very hard, when you have a quarter like we did in the first quarter, to keep the guys at it," he said.

"Whether it's playing for yourself or going away from your structures and the set-ups, I think there is (a challenge to keep the players focused).

"We started to get ahead of the ball, started to not set the ground up as we wanted to do it."

McKenna says the fact the Suns could win the second quarter five goals to three then drop off the pace again suggested a mental problem.

"The win last week (against Port Adelaide) and then reality hits," McKenna said.

The Suns must regroup for their first Queensland derby against the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba next Saturday night.

Key forward Charlie Dixon is in doubt for that due to a bruised calf, McKenna said.

Suns skipper Gary Ablett finished with 30 possessions while Essendon's Jobe Watson had a day out with a game-high 35 touches and nine clearances.

Crameri missed a shot for goal after the siren that would have lifted Essendon's total over 200 points for only the second time in their history.

Hird said he expected veteran full-back Dustin Fletcher, who withdrew from the side with a knee injury, to return against the Eagles.

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