In light of the VFL side’s effort to win the game on the weekend after trailing by 42 points during the third quarter, here are some of Essendon’s best comebacks from over the years.

1993 Essendon v Adelaide, Preliminary Final

With a spot in the Grand Final on the line, Adelaide raced to an early lead.  The Crows kicked seven goals to four in the first quarter, by half time the margin had blown out to 42 points.  But after the break the momentum shifted.  The Bombers kicked 11 goals to two after half time to run out 11-point victors.  Paul Salmon kicked four goals and veteran Tim Watson booted two.  Sean Denham was at his hard working best with 29 possessions.  The Bombers beat Carlton a week later in the Grand Final. 

1984 Essendon v Hawthorn, Grand Final

Smarting from a Grand Final loss a year earlier, the stakes couldn’t have been higher for the Bombers.  But it was the Hawks who controlled most of the game.  The reigning premiers led by 21 points at quarter time and it was a margin they maintained throughout most of the match.  At the final change, the Bombers trailed by 23 points.  Goals to Leon Baker, Peter Bradbury and Mark Thompson had the Dons back in the contest early in the final term.  The Bombers kicked nine goals in a famous last quarter to win by 24 points.

1992 Essendon v Melbourne, Round Six

It was Anzac Day and the Bombers were struggling against the Demons.  Five goals to Garry Lyon helped Melbourne to a 41 point lead at three quarter time.  The margin was made even greater when the Demons kicked the opening goal of the last term.  But with Kieran Sporn (29 possessions) and Michael Long (28 possessions) providing relentless drive in the midfield, the Bombers rallied.  Kevin Sheedy’s side kicked the last eight goals of the game to win by one point.  Paul Salmon ended the match with seven goals.

2013 Fremantle v Essendon, Round Three

The Bombers travelled to Subiaco and were immediately on the back foot.  The Dockers kicked five opening quarter goals.  By half time the margin was 36 points and the Dons had booted just one major.  In the third quarter the momentum began to shift.  Stewart Crameri and Michael Hurley began having an impact in the forward half and Brendon Goddard (26 possession) was having an influence right across the ground.  A late 50-metre penalty gave the Bombers a fifth straight goal and the margin was just three points at the final break.  Nick Kommer put the Bombers in front for the first time early in the last quarter before a left foot snap from Dyson Heppell gave the side some breathing space.   But the Dockers responded to kick two goals of their own to retake the lead.  The scores were level with a minute to play when a Paddy Ryder snap gave the Bombers the lead.  The Dockers had a chance to win it, but Chris Mayne hit the post from just outside the goal square with seconds remaining. 

2009 Essendon v Collingwood, Anzac Day

The Magpies had taken control on a wet Anzac Day.  The Bombers nine point three quarter time lead had evaporated.  Collingwood led by 14 points at the 25 minute mark of the last quarter.  The Bombers comeback started when Leroy Jetta slipped through the Magpies defence.  With rain coming down heavily, the Bombers won the next centre break and put the Magpies defenders under immense pressure to clear the ball.  Leon Davis kicked the ball out on the full allowing Ricky Dyson to kick a goal from 50 metres out, hemmed up against the boundary line.  The comeback was complete when in just his fourth AFL match David Zaharakis kicked the match winner.

2001 Essendon v North Melbourne, Round 16

No team had come back from such a margin before.  The Kangaroos led by 69 points early in the second quarter.  But this was a special Essendon team.  With James Hird urging his teammates to chip away at the deficit the Bombers closed to within four goals at half time.  The third quarter was a shootout with the Bombers kicking seven goals to North’s six.  An eight goal to three final term, was enough for the Bombers to pull off one of its most remarkable wins.  Matthew Lloyd kicked nine goals and Jason Johnson kicked four from his 31 possessions.

What is your favourite Essendon comeback?