The final siren in the win over Hawthorn
The biggest crowd (78,294) for a home and away match between Essendon and Hawthorn was on hand as the Bombers Comeback Story entered its most exciting phase.
The team was led onto the field by new Captain Dyson Heppell and the side featured six returning players (Travis Colyer, Heppell, Cale Hooker, Michael Hurley, Brent Stanton and Jobe Watson), an off-season pick up (Josh Green) and the number one draft pick (Andrew McGrath).
The roar that filled the stadium when the team entered the ground was ever present throughout a pulsating opening term that saw Orazio Fantasia kick the first goal of the match two minutes in.
Hawthorn led by 13 points midway through the third term before the Dons kicked five straight goals to take the lead into the last change. Heppell booted two goals in the last term, the second of which was a clutch set shot that put the result beyond doubt.
In the end the Bombers won by 25 points and the final siren was a moment to savour for all Essendon fans.
Walla’s tackle on ANZAC Day
Collingwood were mounting a last ditch surge when Will Hoskin-Elliott streamed down the Southern Stand wing. The Magpies trailed the Bombers by 20 points with seven minutes to play.
But just as Hoskin-Elliott prepared to drive the ball inside 50, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti closed. He ran down his Pies opponent and from the next play Joe Daniher handed out a ‘don’t argue’ on his way to kicking the sealing goal in a memorable win for the Bombers.
Daniher’s sealer against the Cats
The Bombers had led all night but with less than eight minutes to play, Geelong had cut the margin to just ten points.
Orazio Fantasia burst away from the pack on the wing and handballed out wide to a running Joe Daniher. The 200cm key forward calmly took a few steps to steady before launching a bomb from outside 50.
The goal eased Essendon nerves as the side held on to win by 17 points. Daniher’s five-goal performance was enough to earn the inaugural Tom Wills Award for the best on ground.
Hooker boots five in a half
The Bombers were on fire in the opening exchanges against Port Adelaide. In a blistering ten minute burst the Dons had more than double the possessions (85-36) and more than double the inside 50s (13-6), on their way to kicking the opening six goals of the match.
Cale Hooker led the way kicking three opening quarter goals. By half time, he had five and the Dons were up by 52 points.
The All Australian defender turned forward was a constant threat and cashed in on the Bombers best inside 50 tally (67) of the season.
Dons stun the Eagles
A 16-point quarter time lead became a 47-point advantage in just 12 minutes as the Bombers took the game away from West Coast in the second quarter.
Essendon’s forward line pressure was immense as Joe Daniher (two goals), Travis Colyer and Orazio Fantasia (two goals) helped the Bombers kick the opening five goals of the quarter.
