Essendon make a statement with shock win over Melbourne at MCG as fans rally behind club

ESSENDON supporters went to the MCG on Saturday to “Make A Stand” in support of their club, but it was the players who made the biggest statement.

AFL: Round 2 Essendon v Melbourne Brendon Goddard Picture:Wayne Ludbey

ESSENDON supporters went to the MCG on Saturday to “Make A Stand” in support of their club, but it was the players who made the biggest statement with an uplifting and unexpected victory over Melbourne.

Up to 10,000 Bombers fans met at Federation Square as their team was preparing to face the Demons.

An air raid siren rang out at 12.34pm, representing the 12 banned Essendon players and the 34 in total who were sanctioned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in January, and they marched.

They were marching, some carrying “Justice for the 34” signs, in a show of support for their club, their players and the future.

The importance of the on field victory, watched by a host of past players who had formed a guard of honour as the team ran on to the field for the first bounce, wasn’t lost on Essendon coach John Worsfold.

“I’m just rapt for the club, rapt for the supporters who came out today and the players really,” Worsfold said.

“It’s been tough to get to this point. It’s a really hard earned win so (I’m) pretty proud of getting to that point but (we’re) really aware of the challenges we still face going forward.

“In the context of a normal season, it’s just nice to get a win on the board, but certainly for us, pulling the team together, the work and the desire that the players have shown has been outstanding — to want to learn and to want to challenge themselves to get better, so it has been a big day for the club.

“I really enjoyed seeing some of the past legends of the club lining up as the new generation of players ran out and I think that says a lot. Essendon footy club has an unbelievably great history and it’s got a really bright future.

David Zaharakis, Brendon Goddard and Mitch Brown celebrate the win after the siren. Picture: Alex Coppel.

“It’s our job now to create that.”

Long-time Essendon supporter Terry Penney walked to the ’G with nine of his family members, third and fourth generation Bombers fans.

“It’s been very taxing on supporters,” Penney said of the period since the 2012 supplements program.

“(I) never lost faith in the club, never questioned the club, I questioned the people that ran the club, that’s what I questioned

“Now they’ve turned the page and we’ve got to go through years and years of rebuilding.

“I think this is a good stepping stone … We’re not going to turn our backs on this.”

Adam Cooney said composure by the side was crucial yesterday.

“It was a win that not many people were expecting, a few people tipped us to not win a game this year,” Cooney said.

“At times we got a couple of goals behind and I thought the way we fought back, didn’t drop our heads, guys kept their heads up and really competed hard.

“To show that spirit and come back and win the game was pleasing.”

Worsfold said the victory in front of just over 50,000 people, had given his side confidence.

“A win at this point means, on any given day we can say we’re a realistic chance to compete really strongly and maybe win some games,” Worsfold said.

Cooney was criticised by former Bomber Dean Rioli last week, with Rioli taking to Twitter accusing Cooney of not caring.

But the Brownlow medallist wasn’t bothered by the assessment.

“I don’t really take much notice of people outside the footy club who are criticising me. I just listen to what the coaches say,” Cooney said.

“When you play AFL and you have a social media account you have to be pretty thick skinned or else you probably won’t last because everyone on social media has an opinion. You just don’t listen to it.”