A star was born today as emerging key-position player Michael Hurley shone on the big stage to help secure eighth spot and a finals berth for the Bombers.

Hurley dominated up forward with a best on ground performance, out-marking and out-pointing his more experienced opponents to deliver for Essendon on the scoreboard.

Andrew Welsh praised Hurley’s four-goal performance which ultimately contributed to the Bombers’ 17-point win.

“Michael Hurley going forward for us was a real highlight. He is going to be a super talent and is one that is going to be put up in lights for a long time,” Welsh said.

The Bombers looked shakey early, struggling to hit targets and find opportunities in the forward 50m and looked in all sorts of trouble as they chased a four-goal Hawthorn lead heading into the main break.

However the match was a tale of two halves and the Essendon unit that returned after the main break were a cut above the form they showed in the first half.

Welsh said the intensity and pressure shown by both sides will prepare the Bombers for their first final in five years next Friday night.

“It is amazing. It has been a couple of years now since we have experienced finals and that was a finals-like pressure game,” Welsh said.

“It was very promising to see a lot of younger guys flourish under those conditions so it was good to see.

“It is funny – the last time we played Hawthorn they came out and took it up to us and we really went on with the game and win the game and put ourselves up for the first week of the finals.”

“It will be a massive game and a massive crowd next week. At the start of the year we hoped we could play finals this season and to be able to achieve that and start off playing Adelaide next week will be fantastic,” Welsh said.