For the Brisbane Lions, it was perhaps the lack of expectation that was the biggest motivation in causing the upset of the season, a 10-point win over the Bombers at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Fittingly, after a with 18 lead changes, it was Brent Staker who kicked the match-sealing goal with less than a minute remaining, putting a full stop on the Lions' 14.12 (96) to 12.14 (86) victory.
Staker, who played his first game since 2011 after terrible knee injuries, won a free for being tripped 45 metres out from goal, next to the boundary. With the Lions ahead by four points but the Bombers pressing, Staker coolly slotted the win.
The Bombers were rampant in several of the key indicators, like clearances, inside-50s and contested possessions, but were out-tackled (73-45), out-muscled and out-bustled. In the end, the Lions did enough to achieve their first win in Melbourne since round 13 last year.
Their approach was ground in aggression and physicality. And their fierce and fiery mindset is set to have repercussions at the Match Review Panel on Monday.
Bid on signed match worn Flight Plan guernsey's from the match today.
First came Daniel Merrett's sling tackle on Michael Hurley early in the opening term, which saw Hurley stripped of the ball and then swung into the ground over the boundary line.
Hurley, who has endured a tough run with injury, continued his luckless streak, and was subbed out of the game with no disposals to his name.
Later that term fourth-gamer Justin Clarke effected a late bump on a marking Elliott Kavanagh, which left the young Bomber floored and resulted in Essendon's first goal, a down the field free kick taken by Jobe Watson.
Kavanagh returned to kick the first goal of a seesawing second quarter, but the Lions' pressure around the ball didn't relent. Neither did their tactical nous; with Andrew Raines and Rohan Bewick curtailing important Essendon runners Brent Stanton and Michael Hibberd.
After trialing by seven points at half-time the Lions kicked three of the first four goals of the third quarter to jump to an eight-point lead.
The lead kept swapping throughout the term and the Lions' could have extended their break to nine points at the last change, had co-captain Jonathan Brown kicked straight after the siren.
He made amends soon after, although in controversial fashion, when Brown took a mark on the goalline. The mark was sent for a video review and replays suggested it was over the line, but the vision was deemed inconclusive. Brown snapped the goal, his second of the day in a return to form, and gave the Lions the momentum.
Others kept leading the way. Matthew Leuenberger didn't have many possessions but won 43 hit-outs in a dominant display, and Jack Redden had 22 disposals while limiting Watson.
The Bombers' performance had shades of its effort two weeks ago against Greater Western Sydney, when they fell to a shock 28-point lead before charging home to win.
On Friday, before the game, coach James Hird said he hoped that sort of showing wouldn't repeat. It did, but this time they couldn't fight themselves out of trouble.
ESSENDON 3.1 7.6 10.9 12.14 (86)
BRISBANE LIONS 3.4 6.5 11.7 14.12 (96)
GOALS
Essendon: Bellchambers 2, Heppell 2, Crameri 2, Watson, Meyers, Kavanagh, Hocking, Ryder, Howlett
Brisbane Lions: Zorko 3, Brown 2, Leuenberger, Redden, Black, Lisle, Hanley, Raines, Polkinghorne, Moloney, Staker
BEST
Essendon: Heppell, Goddard, Carlisle, Watson, Hibberd
First came Daniel Merrett's sling tackle on Michael Hurley early in the opening term, which saw Hurley stripped of the ball and then swung into the ground over the boundary line.
Hurley, who has endured a tough run with injury, continued his luckless streak, and was subbed out of the game with no disposals to his name.
Later that term fourth-gamer Justin Clarke effected a late bump on a marking Elliott Kavanagh, which left the young Bomber floored and resulted in Essendon's first goal, a down the field free kick taken by Jobe Watson.
Kavanagh returned to kick the first goal of a seesawing second quarter, but the Lions' pressure around the ball didn't relent. Neither did their tactical nous; with Andrew Raines and Rohan Bewick curtailing important Essendon runners Brent Stanton and Michael Hibberd.
After trialing by seven points at half-time the Lions kicked three of the first four goals of the third quarter to jump to an eight-point lead.
The lead kept swapping throughout the term and the Lions' could have extended their break to nine points at the last change, had co-captain Jonathan Brown kicked straight after the siren.
He made amends soon after, although in controversial fashion, when Brown took a mark on the goalline. The mark was sent for a video review and replays suggested it was over the line, but the vision was deemed inconclusive. Brown snapped the goal, his second of the day in a return to form, and gave the Lions the momentum.
Others kept leading the way. Matthew Leuenberger didn't have many possessions but won 43 hit-outs in a dominant display, and Jack Redden had 22 disposals while limiting Watson.
The Bombers' performance had shades of its effort two weeks ago against Greater Western Sydney, when they fell to a shock 28-point lead before charging home to win.
On Friday, before the game, coach James Hird said he hoped that sort of showing wouldn't repeat. It did, but this time they couldn't fight themselves out of trouble.
ESSENDON 3.1 7.6 10.9 12.14 (86)
BRISBANE LIONS 3.4 6.5 11.7 14.12 (96)
GOALS
Essendon: Bellchambers 2, Heppell 2, Crameri 2, Watson, Meyers, Kavanagh, Hocking, Ryder, Howlett
Brisbane Lions: Zorko 3, Brown 2, Leuenberger, Redden, Black, Lisle, Hanley, Raines, Polkinghorne, Moloney, Staker
BEST
Essendon: Heppell, Goddard, Carlisle, Watson, Hibberd
Brisbane Lions: Zorko, Redden, Leuenberger, Polkinghorne, Raines, Lester, Bewick, Brown
INJURIES
Essendon: Michael Hurley (concussion)
Brisbane Lions: TBC
SUBSTITUTES
Essendon: Ben Howlett replaced Michael Hurley (concussion) in the first quarter
Brisbane Lions: Sam Mayes replaced Simon Black in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Wenn, Pannell, Fisher
Official crowd:: 33,915 at Etihad Stadium
INJURIES
Essendon: Michael Hurley (concussion)
Brisbane Lions: TBC
SUBSTITUTES
Essendon: Ben Howlett replaced Michael Hurley (concussion) in the first quarter
Brisbane Lions: Sam Mayes replaced Simon Black in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Wenn, Pannell, Fisher
Official crowd:: 33,915 at Etihad Stadium
