ESSENDON has delivered the upset of the season to stun inconsistent Greater Western Sydney in a three-point thriller amid scenes of delirium at Marvel Stadium.
Having won just one of their previous 30 games, the Bombers finally played with a sense of urgency to give Dean Solomon his first win in his 10th match as a caretaker coach, which includes three at Gold Coast in 2017.
Leading at every break, Essendon gave up its advantage twice in a frantic final term but hit back through clutch goals to Sullivan Robey and Peter Wright.
With a wildcard spot still up for grabs, the Giants desperately tried to reclaim the lead in the dying stages, but Essendon hung on to win 10.7 (67) to 8.16 (64).
It was Essendon's first win since beating Melbourne in Gather Round in Adelaide on April 11, while it hadn't won a game in Victoria since May 23, 2025.
The Bombers, who were ravaged by Brisbane last Sunday and had lost 12 straight matches, were given virtually no hope of matching it with the red-hot Giants.
But it does continue Greater Western Sydney's baffling trend of struggling against lower-ranked opposition, but managing to dismantle last year’s grand finalists Brisbane and Geelong, as well as rampaging ladder leader Fremantle, amid its previous seven games.
As well as the Bombers, GWS has dropped matches to St Kilda (twice) and West Coast.
GWS was demolished in the clearances 45-28, as Essendon aces Zach Merrett (35 touches, one goal) and Sam Durham (25 disposals) impressed.
Further delighting the home crowd, former Essendon forward Jake Stringer endured a horror match in front of goal to finish with 0.7 on a wayward night for the Giants.
The only concern for Essendon was young star Nate Caddy, who was sent to hospital due to an elevated heart rate.
Caddy, who recently re-signed until the end of 2031 in a massive boost for the battling Bombers, didn't return to the ground after quarter-time.
The result could prove costly for GWS, which would have jumped into 10th and a wildcard spot, had it beaten the Bombers.
It also lifted Essendon to 17th, sending Richmond to the bottom of the ladder.
Bombers bring the heat
Essendon has been criticised often this season for being too easy to play against, but brought the pressure and intensity from the outset against the Giants. In just the first quarter, the Bombers had five tackles inside 50 – topping the tallies they managed for full games in the previous three matches. Having both Isaac Kako and Hussien El Achkar inside 50 helped their cause, as they combined for seven of the Bombers' 18 for the game.
ESSENDON 2.4 3.6 7.6 10.7 (67)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 2.3 2.9 5.12 8.16 (64)
GOALS
Essendon: Farrow 2, Bryan 2, Wright, Sharp, Robey, Redman, Merrett, El Achkar
Greater Western Sydney: Greene 2, Rowston, Ough, Gruzewski, Coniglio, Brown, Angwin
BEST
Essendon: Durham, Bryan, Merrett, Redman, Sharp, Roberts
Greater Western Sydney: Idun, Taylor, Brown, Whitfield, Ash, Callaghan
INJURIES
Essendon: Caddy (elevated heart rate), Duursma (hamstring)
Greater Western Sydney: Greene (quad)
