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AFL 2020: Essendon ‘obliterates’ Hawthorn in absurd comeback

Essendon has produced a bonkers comeback in the most unthinkable “obliteration” of the season after being branded “insipid”.

Tyson OttoTyson Otto
@tottodtsport
2 min read
August 27, 2020 - 8:23PM
He’s back.
He’s back.

Essendon has pulled off the most bonkers comeback of 2020 to give Joe Daniher something to think about in his ongoing trade speculation saga.

The Bombers were labelled an “insipid” rabble after their worst first half of the season saw them put to the sword by the lowly Hawks before half time.

But then the most unthinkable comeback was sprung.

The Dons were a different team when they returned for the second half and flipped the script on the Hawks to take a thrilling 13.9 (87) to 10.11 (71) win.

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After being embarrassed in the first half, Essendon took control of the midfield battles and kicked four unanswered goals to start the third term, including Joe Daniher’s first goal since Round 9, 2019.

The Bombers cut the deficit to nine points by the three-quarter time siren.

Fox Footy star Jonathan Brown said: “It is unbelievable how much this game has turned on its head.

“That was a complete obliteration in the middle.”

By the time Dylan Clarke kicked his first goal Essendon was in front for the first time at the nine-minute mark of the fourth quarter.

When Joe Daniher kicked the match-sealer, his second of the match with a banana from the pocket, the Bombers could sniff their best comeback win of the year.

“They’ve come back from oblivion in this match,” Fox Footy’s Anthony Hudson said.

But there was more late drama when Jack Gunston put the Hawks back to within four points with under three minutes to play.

It was only when Clarke kicked his second goal with less than two minutes to play that Essendon could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

It was the Joe show.
It was the Joe show.

It was party time when Daniher slotted his third.

The key forward returned for his first game of the season against the Hawks after battling a debilitating groin injury and other soft tissue complaints that have kept him out of action since Round 9, 2019.

He returned as if he never had a break of more than 460 days in the AFL wilderness.

He finished with three goals from six shots and also snatched 10 marks to be one of the best on ground.

“I feel really good and I’ve got the training in, so I’ve been working hard and hopefully continue to play out this year and keep moving forward with this footy club,” Daniher told Fox Footy after the game.

“The boys’ support has been fantastic so I had to come out and help them out tonight so it feels good.”

The win has seen the Bombers climb back up to ninth on the ladder and their’ finals campaign still has a heartbeat.

It was a complete heart attack for them in the first half.

Essendon was labelled “insipid and “a disgrace” by footy commentators at half time.

It came after Hawthorn cut the pathetic Essendon defence apart, achieving 11 shots on goal from their 12 entries inside the 50m arc.

If they’d kicked straight it would have been all over.

Instead they only managed 4.6 for the quarter and took a 36-point lead into the second half.

The six goal margin was the biggest half time deficit Essendon has faced this season.

Brown earlier described Essendon’s defence as “diabolical”.

“They’ve got no idea how to play,” he said.

“It is an absolute indictment that second quarter. In that second quarter Hawthorn went inside fifty 12 times for 11 shots. That is a disgrace. Granted, you acknowledge Hawthorn are playing good football, but that is a disgraceful performance as a team defensively.”

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/afl-2020-essendon-obliterates-hawthorn-in-absurd-comeback/news-story/ce8154310dcd972a7c059ff63e206595