Essendon pulls of ‘miracle’ comeback victory despite illness chaos

A spirited Essendon outfit has pulled off a win for the ages after it lost five players moments before the first bounce at Marvel Stadium.

Peter Wright of the Bombers celebrates. Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

A spirited Essendon outfit has pulled off a win for the ages after it lost five players moments before the bounce at Marvel Stadium on Saturday evening.

Not only did the Bombers need to overcome a late reshuffle, but it trailed Hawthorn at every change, staging a remarkable final quarter fightback to win 16.12 (108) to 11.15 (81).

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Two Rising Star hopefuls led their sides from the front, but it was Nic Martin that ultimately bettered Jai Newcombe’s career-best performance.

Hawthorn made the most of Essendon’s pregame personnel debacle to get the jump on the Bombers, taking an 11-point lead into quarter-time.

It should’ve been more for the Hawks who were wasteful in front of goal, squandering easy chances.

After spraying three shots in the first six minutes, the Bombers kicked the first two of the game and thought they had a third when Ben Hobbs snapped truly. But a replay showed it caught the fingertips of Denver Grainger-Barras and the ball was returned to the goalsquare for a kick in.

It wasn’t until time-on Hawthorn was able to boot its first major, coming from the unlikely source of Max Lynch, who hadn’t kicked an AFL goal. Five minutes later, a Harry Morrison goal was sandwiched between Lynch’s second as the 23-year-old proved the avenue to goal the Hawks needed.

A frenetic first 10 minutes of the second term yielded five goals with both sides struggling to gain the ascendancy as they went goal-for-goal.

Eventually, Jacob Koschitzke broke the pattern and kicked the Hawks to an 18-point halftime lead.

It was a small slice of what the Hawks deserved after having eight more scoring shots and nine more inside 50s.

Thee Bombers celebrate after they defeat the Hawks. Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Jai Newcombe did the damage around the ball — the Rising Star hopeful had 21 touches and four clearances at halftime, while Dylan Moore continued his red-hot form with 13 disposals and a goal.

The Bombers found their mojo again to take over territory in the third quarter, but as the Hawks had done in the first half they blew their chances in front of goal.

Hobbs got his first goal which drew the Dons within two goals deep into the term, but a 50m penalty after a push in the back helped the Hawks take back momentum in the shadows of three-quarter time.

Soon after, Finn Maginness kicked Hawthorn to a 15-point lead.

The Bombers needed the first goal of the last quarter, and they got it courtesy of a Kaine Baldwin set shot to cut the margin to 10-points.

The Hawks were without Lynch for the first seven minutes as he underwent a concussion test, thrusting 19-year-old Jackson Callow into the ruck.

Nic Martin, who might be Essendon’s most impressive player, came alive, kicking a snap goal before setting up Peter Wright for his fourth.

Good bloody on ya, Dons 👏🏻 #AFLDonsHawks

— Jack Hudson (@jhudson_10) May 7, 2022

You bloody ripper bombers!!!! @essendonfc#AFLDonsHawks 🔴⚫️🔴⚫️🔴⚫️🔴⚫️🔴⚫️

— Arron Wood AM (@ArronWood) May 7, 2022

This is beautiful.
Absolutely beautiful.
What a night. #GoDons#AFLDonsHawks

— Alex Fair (@AJFair85) May 7, 2022

Marvel Stadium was sent into raptures as Essendon fans thought Mason Redman had given the Bombers the lead, but Wright had slung Sam Frost to the ground on the goal line to cost the Dons the six-points.

A long ball to the top of Essendon’s goalsquare minutes later fell to the feet of Zach Merrett, who couldn’t bend down to pick it up, but in a fluke the ball ricocheted off his shin for a goal and the Bombers led.

If the Bombers’ faithful wasn’t believing already, they were when Wright ran onto a ball over the back on the wing, ambled forward and kicked a 55m goal on the run to put his side nine-points up.

A minute later Aaron Francis sealed the deal, and an unlikely Essendon win.

“This will be a win for the ages,” former Western Bulldogs star Luke Darcy told Channel 7.

“The miracle at Marvel.”

Essendon captain Dyson Heppell told Channel 7 after the triumph: “That’s unbelievable, to be honest.

“You come into a game with a bit of a sense and a feeling and I’m just so proud of the attitude the boys have been sticking to over this whole period. There’s been a lot of outside noise, but within the four walls it’s just been an unbelievable environment for the circumstance we’ve been in.

“To show up, with (five) blokes out late with illness – it’s just an unbelievable effort.”

Originally published as Essendon pulls of ‘miracle’ comeback victory despite illness chaos