Gary Rohan heroics save Sydney Swans in last-second win over Essendon

SYDNEY 2.5 5.11 8.17 11.20 (86)
ESSENDON 2.4 4.9 7.11 12.13 (85)

GOALS: Sydney - Heeney 2, Newman 2, Parker, Papley, Reid, Hannebery, Hayward, Florent, Rohan Essendon - Stewart 2, McKernan 2, Daniher, Zaharakis, Bellchambers, McKenna, Orazio, McDonald-Tipungwuti, Colyer, Hurley
BEST: Sydney – Heeney, Kennedy, Smith, Hannebery, Lloyd, Rampe, Rohan Essendon - Merrett, Hurley, Colyer, Baguley, Howlett, Zaharakis
UMPIRES: Justin Schmitt, Craig Fleer, Jacob Mollison
CROWD: 34,575 at the SCG

Gary Rohan's last-second goal sent Sydney into the AFL's top eight for the first time in 300 days and ensured a one-point win over a gallant Essendon after a wasteful night at the SCG.

Rohan snared a one-handed mark on the goal line in the dying seconds, and went back to slot the set shot in front of 34,575 fans who thought they'd watched the Swans throw away their sixth win of the season after a brilliant Essendon comeback.

Gary Rohan celebrates with team mates after kicking a goal to win the match during the round 14 AFL match between the Sydney Swans and the Essendon Bombers.Credit: Getty Images

The Bombers slammed through seven straight goals in a third-and-fourth quarter blitz and led by 19 points at one stage in the final term before Sydney lifted themselves off the canvas to save their season.

Michael Hurley's long bomb 23 minutes into the final term looked to have handed Essendon a gutsy win before Oliver Florent soccered one through and Nic Newman snapped his second to set up Rohan's late heroics.

It was the ultimate get out of jail for Sydney who kicked 20 behinds for the night in a horribly inaccurate showing where key forwards Sam Reid and Lance Franklin managed just 1.9 between them for the evening.

"It's not too often you go through games like that," Swans coach John Longmire said.

Big comeback: Dan Hannebery of the Swans celebrates a goal.Credit: Getty Images

"Thirty-one scoring shots I think and had plenty of opportunities. Not only did we have opportunities kicking goals but we probably turned the ball over a bit too much.

"Then tonight, [to] get 19 points down with less than five minutes to go and get those few minutes right was a credit to the players. You need a little bit of luck when things are that tight.

Hard to swallow: Joe Daniher of the Bombers looks dejected after the siren.Credit: Getty Images

"They got some things right in the last couple of minutes. Those situations have gone against us before especially this year.

"There were two elements, one of them we got the game state right and we needed a little bit of luck."

The result was harsh on the Bombers who had a seventh win of the year in the bag thanks to a strong showing from Zach Merrett in the middle, Travis Colyer's irresistible pace and Hurley's efforts down back alongside the plucky Mark Baguley.

"It's disappointing not to hold on and win but what a great game of footy, rapt with the effort the players brought, we knew it was going to be a big challenge up here," Essendon coach John Worsfold said.

"Their form is probably the best over the last six or seven weeks. They had a slow start [this season] but we all know when you're playing so many kids, things change, it's a different line up.

"They're getting those players back now and they're a very good squad.

"Our form holds up, we're confident that our form is up there with the team that's in the best form in the comp right now and that's the form we want to keep carrying on with."

Sydney will quite possibly fall out of the eight by the end of the round, but a win over Melbourne in a Friday night blockbuster next weekend would square their ledger at 7-7 and confirm that they are still very much a flag contender this year.

This began as a game of ordinary quality from the outset on a slippery SCG where the umpires were content to blow their whistles, and where behinds easily outnumbered goals.

And the Swans will have more of these to navigate before season's end, and they're the games they must win against the teams around them.

Longmire was left frustrated by his side's wastefulness, but on reflection that'll fall by the wayside as he basks in another four precious premiership points.

Midfield supremo Luke Parker kicked the game's first major after Essendon botched a kick-in, but the visitors bounced back quickly through Joe Daniher, and then James Stewart.

It was Daniher's 22nd goal from his last 24 attempts since returning a paltry 1.6 against Melbourne back in round six.

Those yips came back in the second term after Dane Rampe was punished for holding the Bombers key forward in a marking contest, 30m out from goal.

Daniher lined up from right in front and missed horribly to the right, staying true to the narrative of the evening.

There were a combined 11 behinds kicked in that second quarter alone, in amongst moments of sporadic brilliance.

Sydney reeled off three straight to establish the biggest buffer of the match, but the Bombers hung around looking ever dangerous on the counter attack and a David Zaharakis set shot late in the first half ensured the margin was only eight at the main break.

The Swans were on top at the clearances but both sides were matching each other at the contested ball and the Bombers speed was always a concern for the home side, particularly without the suspended Zak Jones patrolling in midfield.

Mor inaccuracy came in the third quarter before Sydney midfield star Dan Hannebery grabbed the ball from 35m out and snapped it through on his left to stop the rot.

Then it was up to the young guys to show their composure.

Isaac Heeney pulled the trigger off a step from 50m out to get the Swans fans on their feet before Will Hayward took a superb mark and went back to drill it over the goal umpire's hat.

Just as Sydney looked to have gained control, the Bombers answered with a couple of quick goals thanks again to their lightning pace through the middle of the ground before the frantic final quarter.