Essendon’s Sunday MCG surge shows finals capability

There’s a key factor holding Essendon back from making the finals but it isn’t belief, which has been restored.

A pumped-up Jake Stringer celebrates. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Essendon midfield gun Jye Caldwell says the way he and his teammates “didn’t shy away from the moment” in Sunday’s stunning win over Fremantle is evidence the Bombers will stack up should they make the finals.

The one-point MCG win, coming from as much as four goals down against the top-four hopeful Dockers, has left the door ajar for a Bombers return to the finals even though coach Chris Scott said there was little point falling into the finals and it could be “more damaging” if his team wasn’t ready.

Essendon’s horror percentage of 95.9, the only team in the top 11 with a percentage of less than 100, looms as a significant impediment to making the finals, a scenario that looked likely a month ago when the Bombers were fourth with a 10-5-1 record.

Saturday’s Marvel Stadium clash with the freefalling Gold Coast Suns could determine their finals fate ahead of clashes with the ladder-leading Sydney Swans, who are also in a rut, then the rampaging Brisbane Lions to close out the season.

But having turned their fortunes around after being “bashed” by critics in the wake of consecutive losses to Melbourne and then St Kilda, two teams who won’t make the finals, and even resurrecting Sunday’s game, Caldwell said “belief” was stirring within the Bombers.

“It just shows you what can change in a week,” he said after the win.

Smiles are back at the Bombers. Picture: Martin Keep/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

“That belief, knowing we have each other’s back, knowing we can do it, is a massive strength of ours. That last quarter, we didn’t shy away from the moment. We took it with both hands.

“It’s been a pretty big week, probably couple of weeks. It puts a smile on all our faces. Not just the four points, but the way we played.”

Scott, in just his second season in charge, has maintained his players remain on a learning curve and was less inclined to make finals an end goal for this season despite the opportunity in front of his men.

He also he said you learnt more from losses, but the fight from his men on Sunday was just as important in the context of where he was trying to take his team.

“Would you choose to lose close games to learn lessons? Of course, you wouldn’t,” he said.

“But the unfortunate reality is you do learn more from them.

“But again, it’s not what happens, it’s how you respond. We’ve been really frustrated the last couple of weeks … but (today) the fight was there right until the end, which is what all of our supporters want to see.”

Originally published as Essendon’s Sunday MCG surge shows finals capability