Essendon overcame the hospitalisation of captain James Hird and a Wayne Carey-inspired Adelaide to notch its sixth consecutive AFL victory.

Essendon triumphed 20.15 (135) to Adelaide's 12.12 (84) before 46,309 people at AAMI Stadium.

Hird was sent to hospital at halftime with suspected bleeding behind an eye.

The Bombers skipper was injured in a first quarter mishap and did not take any part in the second term before being taken to hospital.

By the time Hird checked-in, his side already had established a match-winning advantage after a dominant first half which stunned the home side.

Essendon took just 22 minutes to create a five-goal lead that the Crows never seriously threatened, despite Carey winding back the clock with a vintage six-goal haul.

The former Kangaroos captain single handedly kept Adelaide interested in a contest effectively decided by the Bombers' withering opening burst.

Carey roamed the Adelaide forward line in a commanding display and had 10 scoring shots in easily his best display in two seasons at the South Australian club.

But Carey's heroics were not supported by enough of his team-mates as Essendon convincingly outgunned Adelaide's much-vaunted midfield.

Onballers Mark Johnson, Dean Solomon and wingman Justin Murphy were prominent during Essendon's first win at AAMI Stadium in four seasons.

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