It was the Tom Edwards and Sullivan Robey show at the NEC Hangar on Saturday afternoon.

The pair were dominant as Essendon VFL got off the mark in season 2026, combining for nine goals to propel a spirited 15.8 (98) to 12.7 (79) comeback win over North Melbourne.

It was Edwards' first game of footy in nearly 12 months from an untimely ACL injury, but you wouldn't have known it from his play - the 25-year-old first hit the scoreboard with a snap late in the second term and was eventually converting for fun after the break.

MATCH CENTRE: FULL STATS FROM BOMBERS' VFL WIN

Finishing with five goals, Edwards was a dangerous aerial target inside 50 (taking an impressive pack mark on the arc ahead of his fourth) and he was equally as creative in providing scoring opportunities for his teammates.

In addition to the feel-good story, draftee Robey was a clear best afield on the day, the 18-year-old finishing with 23 disposals (10 contested) and four majors in a game-breaking display as both midfielder and deep forward.

The duo were involved in arguably the play of the day when Robey charged up the corridor - his long, high entry was weighted perfectly for a diving Edwards, whose courageous contested mark and goal continued a stellar third term from the Dons.

Robey celebrates his fourth goal with Edwards. (Photo: Essendon FC)

Essendon will be happier for seeing Jordan Ridley out there. The 27-year-old got through the game well on managed minutes in the back half.

The result was a real sign of resilience from the Bombers. Following on from last week's defeat in Geelong, the side conceded the opening four goals to the Roos in a disappointing start but were unwavering in their intent to fight back into the contest.

Rhys Unwin's sheer speed opened the door for a clever goal to ignite the fightback - the Dons piling on another four in the final five minutes of the opening term to set the tone for the rest of the day.

The contest stayed within two goals for virtually the entire afternoon from that point, a three-goal-to-one final term finally icing it. Edwards provided two of those before former Bendigo Pioneers captain Dayten Uerata sealed the deal with a late running snap.

It was a positional shift for Jayden Nguyen, who was thrown forward and applied fantastic pressure throughout the day. Two of his spoils and one percenters directly set up final quarter goals.

VFL Vice-Captain Jackson Hately (31 touches, one goal) and signing Jaxon Binns (23 touches, six intercepts) were also among the best on the day.

The 1-1 Dons now turn their attention to Footscray in a curtain raiser at Marvel Stadium on Easter Sunday.

ESSENDON                   5.2     8.3     12.4    15.8   (98)
NORTH MELBOURNE    4.2     8.2     11.5    12.7   (79)

GOALS
Edwards 5, Robey 4, Unwin, Hately, Eckersley, Cox, Bella, Uerata

BEST
Robey, Edwards, Hately, Binns, Nyko, O'Neill, Tsatas