AFL news 2024: Essendon keeps finals dream alive after thrilling win over Fremantle at MCG

Brad Scott was enormously proud of his players’ effort in Essendon’s win over Fremantle. So much so that if the Dons hadn’t got over the line, the match still would have shown growth.

Essendon coach Brad Scott said pride was the “overwhelming” emotion for him after his Bombers fought their way back from 25 points down in the final quarter to down top-four Fremantle by a point in a thriller at the MCG.

The nail-biting 13.12 (90) to 14.5 (89) result kept Essendon’s faltering season alive and after a horrible two-month run, which only produced two wins, it was the Bombers’ determination to keep battling against adversity on Sunday that stood out for Scott.

“I’m just proud of the players’ effort,” Scott said post-game.

“I thought we gave that for the whole game. The game wasn’t necessarily going our way at various stages.

Brad Scott loved Essendon’s effort. Picture: Mark Stewart

“And Fremantle are going really well. I think they’re a very good side. They’ve got a lot of capability and pose a lot of threats.

“We really felt like (it was) a game of, as it often is in modern footy, momentum and who could get a hold of the momentum.

“But the thing I was probably most pleased with is that we gave good effort, put ourselves in the contest but we found ourselves behind on the scoreboard.

“So the ability to stay focused on what we were doing, and persist right to the last minute or second was the most pleasing part.”

A Sam Durham behind on the run from 50m out with 24 seconds remaining decided the game in sensational fashion.

“It doesn’t guarantee anything but it’s about showing fight all the way through and if the result had gone against us but we’d fought and fought, we would consider that still a step forward,” Scott said.

The Dons’ season is still alive. Picture: Mark Stewart

“We do obviously focus on the outcome of the game but we work really hard on it. Regardless of the state of the game, keep playing consistent footy because it’s what holds up when the pressure really comes and it’s tight.

“The ability to play each contest and not be worried about the last one you lost or the last contest you lost or a dropped mark here or there, we do a lot of work on that.

“It doesn’t guarantee anything but in those moments you can certainly get much better when you can prevail when the pressure’s on you.”

DONS KEEP FINALS DREAM ALIVE

- Josh Barnes

Essendon goalkicker Jake Stringer has lauded a remarkable turnaround against Fremantle after the Bombers proved their mettle following a “pretty stern week”.

The Bombers were under the pump all week following a dismal loss to St Kilda, with coach Brad Scott publicly chastising the effort of his side.

Scott didn’t pull any punches internally either, putting the heat firmly on his side to respond.

For three quarters on Sunday, it appeared Essendon’s season would continue to fade away before a withering five-goal final term burst before Sam Durham’s behind secured a one-point win.

Stringer described the last fortnight – which started with a shock two point loss to Adelaide – as “a pretty trying, tough couple of weeks”.

“We had a few results that were uncharacteristic from us but to have our backs pretty much up against the wall, playing for our season and to respond the way we did, it is just a real credit to the boys,” he said.

Jake Stringer celebrates a first quarter goal on Sunday. Picture; Daniel Pockett/Getty Images.

“It was a pretty stern week. There wasn’t a whole lot we had to correct, it was just getting back on course and I thought tonight (against Fremantle) was a real step forward.”

Jye Amiss tied the scores with a goal from a free kick with 36 seconds to play before Essendon skipper Zach Merrett won the crucia, final centre bounce clearance to set up Durham’s match winning point.

Stringer, who kicked four goals in a deep forward role, initially thought the centre break was coming his way.

“I had seen Zach come out and I was on his left side so I thought I was on for a hit up but then I saw Duz go out and headed back towards goal,” he said.

“Off Duz’s boot I thought it was going in but it faded and I saw he was just about in the grandstand (celebrating).

“Just pretty much as soon as you realise it is going through the points you have to turn it all round and get back to defend. I thought we executed really well tonight.”

BOMBERS’ KAMAKAZI RAID KEEPS FINALS HOPES FLICKERING

Amid the biggest rollercoaster of a season we have known, this was just another ride.

Essendon somehow resurrected their season once, almost saw it slip away, and then saved it with a point.

And that was just the final quarter.

If you aren’t absolutely hooked by the craziest AFL season we have seen in a generation, you are now.

This clash against Fremantle all came down to the final centre bounce, with scores level and 36 seconds to play.

Zach Merrett, subdued by his standards for most of the day, blasted through the restart and set up Sam Durham, to kick the winning point.

It was the ultimate handy point.

Durham kicks the match-winning behind and Draper stands up strong in the middle 💪#AFLDonsFreopic.twitter.com/IxKBkJXd2O

— AFL (@AFL) August 4, 2024

Just moments before, Bomebrs fans were gobsmacked as Jye Amiss received a free kick from a foolish Jayden Laverde to tie the scores from a tight set shot.

The free was there, but you wouldn’t have convinced the one-eyed Bombers crowd of that.

This is a season of momentum swings and moments and the final quarter had it all for Essendon fans, after they entered the fourth term feeling as though the season was done.

The one-point stunner came off a 10 minute patch so perfect and so crazy, even Brad Scott had a laugh in the coaches box.

From virtually nowhere, the Dons jumped off life support, mystifying a parochial crowd and saving a season.

This was so far gone that the Bombers fans were in a funk, picking out whipping boys to complain about on the train ride home.

Essendon was plain bad for much of the day, turning the ball over in the forward half time and time again.

Dylan Shiel returned to being a centre bounce beast and led a momentum wave dragged the Dons back up the ladder and back in with a sniff of September.

After a week of talk about Essendon’s effort, the Bombers definitely put in for most off the day at the MCG but had about as much polish as a Hungarian judo team.

Then they had it all.

Jade Gresham of the Bombers celebrates a goal. Picture: Mark Stewart

By the time Kyle Langford kicked the Dons two goals clear, Scott was chuckling to himself and those in red and black were dancing in the aisles.

The forward line that was on the end of comical errors for three-and-a-half quarters opened up gloriously.

And so clinical for much of the day it was Fremantle making the errors in the end, with Jordan Clark missing a rudimentary handball at half-back and Jeremy Sharp blasting a late inside-50 out of bounds.

Before that final quarter this appeared to be a statement win on the road for Justin Longmuir’s team as they charged towards the top-four.

Now they face Geelong at home, GWS on the road and a powerful Port Adelaide in Perth in the final round, with their top-eight credentials back on the line.

The Bombers fans who were surely looking at the exits early in the last quarter stayed long after the final bell at the MCG.

They should beat Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium next week then play a battling Sydney at home the week after.

A finals appearance that had turned to dust is now well and truly back within reach.

How do you have any idea what is coming next in an AFL season as wild as this?

Originally published as AFL news 2024: Essendon keeps finals dream alive after thrilling win over Fremantle at MCG