Melbourne has produced the upset of the season to stun high-flying Essendon by six points at the MCG.
After a horror start to Mark Neeld's tenure, his first win as coach of the Demons was built on intensity and ferocity at the contest, which the Bombers failed to match in the 8.10 (58) to 6.16 (52) result.
The Dees led by 11 points 19 minutes into the last quarter and held on grimly as the Bombers spurned several opportunities to snatch a come-from-behind victory before the final siren sounded to scenes of jubilation on the Melbourne bench with Neeld embracing his players.
Light rain that fell in the first half made conditions difficult for both sides, but Melbourne's one-on-one game plan robbed the Bombers, who sat second on the ladder before the match, of time and space.
Jack Watts (24 possessions) was a key player as a loose man down back for the Demons, with Jack Grimes (26), Nathan Jones (26) and Brent Moloney (23) all important.
Defender Col Garland was also important in a surprising attacking role.
Jobe Watson was valiant for the Bombers with 32 possessions and two goals, but he didn't get nearly enough support on a disappointing night for James Hird.
""We didn't play well, we didn't convert our opportunities, we didn't win contested footy - the things that we think we're good at we didn't do well tonight,"" Hird said.
""We let Melbourne, who hadn't won a game, get a sniff and if you're desperate for a win and you get a sniff then you lift a cog. All credit to the way they played.""
The Dons more than doubled the Demons' inside 50s in the first quarter, but through a combination of their own wastefulness and Melbourne's intensity and numbers in the back half, they failed to capitalise on that dominance.
Watson kicked his side's first goal just over a minute in and the Dons failed to kick another for the rest of the quarter, with Jeremy Howe booting the Dees' only major to send his team into the first break three points in arrears.
Melbourne stunned the home crowd with a three-goal burst to take a 13-point lead midway through the second term as the Bombers continued to spurn opportunities in front of goal.
Alwyn Davey ran onto a loose ball out the back of a contest to drag one back late in the quarter, but again, it was Essendon's only major for the term with the Demons leading by a goal at half-time.
Essendon looked set to run over the top of Melbourne with the first two goals of the second half and they had their noses in front by eight points at three-quarter-time.
Paddy Ryder kicked his second behind of the match to start the final term, as the Bombers threatened, but just when Demon hearts looked set to be broken, unlikely hero Garland stepped up to kick two goals to secure a famous victory.
After a horror start to Mark Neeld's tenure, his first win as coach of the Demons was built on intensity and ferocity at the contest, which the Bombers failed to match in the 8.10 (58) to 6.16 (52) result.
The Dees led by 11 points 19 minutes into the last quarter and held on grimly as the Bombers spurned several opportunities to snatch a come-from-behind victory before the final siren sounded to scenes of jubilation on the Melbourne bench with Neeld embracing his players.
Light rain that fell in the first half made conditions difficult for both sides, but Melbourne's one-on-one game plan robbed the Bombers, who sat second on the ladder before the match, of time and space.
Jack Watts (24 possessions) was a key player as a loose man down back for the Demons, with Jack Grimes (26), Nathan Jones (26) and Brent Moloney (23) all important.
Defender Col Garland was also important in a surprising attacking role.
Jobe Watson was valiant for the Bombers with 32 possessions and two goals, but he didn't get nearly enough support on a disappointing night for James Hird.
""We didn't play well, we didn't convert our opportunities, we didn't win contested footy - the things that we think we're good at we didn't do well tonight,"" Hird said.
""We let Melbourne, who hadn't won a game, get a sniff and if you're desperate for a win and you get a sniff then you lift a cog. All credit to the way they played.""
The Dons more than doubled the Demons' inside 50s in the first quarter, but through a combination of their own wastefulness and Melbourne's intensity and numbers in the back half, they failed to capitalise on that dominance.
Watson kicked his side's first goal just over a minute in and the Dons failed to kick another for the rest of the quarter, with Jeremy Howe booting the Dees' only major to send his team into the first break three points in arrears.
Melbourne stunned the home crowd with a three-goal burst to take a 13-point lead midway through the second term as the Bombers continued to spurn opportunities in front of goal.
Alwyn Davey ran onto a loose ball out the back of a contest to drag one back late in the quarter, but again, it was Essendon's only major for the term with the Demons leading by a goal at half-time.
Essendon looked set to run over the top of Melbourne with the first two goals of the second half and they had their noses in front by eight points at three-quarter-time.
Paddy Ryder kicked his second behind of the match to start the final term, as the Bombers threatened, but just when Demon hearts looked set to be broken, unlikely hero Garland stepped up to kick two goals to secure a famous victory.
ESSENDON 1.5 2.9 5.13 6.16 (52)
MELBOURNE 1.2 4.3 5.5 8.10 (58)
GOALS
Essendon:Watson 2, Davey, Melksham, Hocking, Colyer
Melbourne:Garland 2, Howe, Morton, Moloney, Jones, Clark, Sylvia
BEST
Essendon:Watson, Dempsey, Stanton, Howlett, Zaharakis
Melbourne:Watts, Jones, Moloney, Rivers, Grimes, Nicholson
INJURIES
Essendon:Hooker (soreness) replaced inselected side by Pears
Melbourne:Bail (concussion) replaced in selected side by Morton, Blease (groin)
SUBSTITUTES
Essendon:Alwyn Davey replaced in the fourth quarter by Sam Lonergan
Melbourne:Sam Blease (groin) replaced in the third quarter by Lynden Dunn
Reports:Nil
Umpires:McBurney, Jennings, Foot
MELBOURNE 1.2 4.3 5.5 8.10 (58)
GOALS
Essendon:Watson 2, Davey, Melksham, Hocking, Colyer
Melbourne:Garland 2, Howe, Morton, Moloney, Jones, Clark, Sylvia
BEST
Essendon:Watson, Dempsey, Stanton, Howlett, Zaharakis
Melbourne:Watts, Jones, Moloney, Rivers, Grimes, Nicholson
INJURIES
Essendon:Hooker (soreness) replaced inselected side by Pears
Melbourne:Bail (concussion) replaced in selected side by Morton, Blease (groin)
SUBSTITUTES
Essendon:Alwyn Davey replaced in the fourth quarter by Sam Lonergan
Melbourne:Sam Blease (groin) replaced in the third quarter by Lynden Dunn
Reports:Nil
Umpires:McBurney, Jennings, Foot
