The Bombers fell eight points short of producing one of the most exhilarating comebacks of all time as they attempted to provide their greatest living player, James Hird, and coach of 27 years, Kevin Sheedy, with a fairytale finish to their stellar careers.

Facing a 44-point deficit heading into the final quarter of football, Essendon tried every trick in the book to bring the margin back to only three points with three minutes remaining. However time ran out for the Bombers and their desperate bid to manufacture the impossible fell eight points short.

Despite being without the class of Chris Judd, Andrew Embley, Ashley Hansen, Daniel Kerr, and Adam Selwood, the Eagles held on long enough to prevent themselves from falling victim to the Bombers’ emotion-fuelled efforts to provide two Essendon legends with one final victory.

The Eagles could not be moved by the big occasion and came out to play, diligently going about their business early as Ben Cousins goaled within minutes of the opening bounce.

Goals to Daniel Chick, Dean Cox and Brent Staker followed as West Coast ran riot through the centre of the ground, showing their ability to inflict some damage by linking up by hand. They worked to move the ball with haste from Essendon’s attacking fifty and suddenly the warning bells were ringing for the Bombers.

Things looked to go from bad to worse as James Hird caused some distress for Bomber fans when he left the ground early in the term to have work done on his calf but returned shortly after and headed straight back into the middle of the ground.

From there, the Bombers began to work themselves back into the match, finding momentum in the latter half of the term as solid work throughout the ground allowed Essendon to goal through Jason Winderlich.

His major was quickly followed by debutant Jay Neagle, who joined the elusive club of kicking a goal with his first kick in AFL football, while pinning the margin back to 10 points.

Scott Lucas set the Bombers off to the perfect start in the second term with a goal in the opening minute, followed by a major to Mark McVeigh, as Essendon began to use the ball well in their forward line.

However their momentum didn’t last long and as the quarter progressed, the Eagles looked to hold all the answers as they boasted no shortage of attacking options and began to load up their side of the scoreboard.

The beneficiaries of accurate kicking, it didn’t take West Coast long to work the Bombers into a state of distress as the Eagles’ small forwards began to inflict some real damage on the Essendon team.

As the lead spiralled further and further into enemy territory, Jason Winderlich gave the Bombers some momentary relief, providing a late goal to end the Eagles’ seven goal blitz, to pull the lead back to 38 points heading into the long break.

Despite the disappointing scoreline, James Hird could do little to disappoint, as he found plenty of touch to finish the half with 17 possessions. Andrew Lovett (15), Damien Peverill (15) and Adam McPhee also found large supply of the sherrin.

Facing a six-goal deficit, mastermind coach Kevin Sheedy would need to use every inch of his 27 years of experience to create an upset win on this occasion and work his side back into the match.

And the early signs were positive as Essendon was able to win the ball out of the centre more consistently and began to play some accountable football. However they were only hanging in the game and needed to do more if they had any hopes of drawing back the confronting margin.

Goals came easily at both ends of the ground with everyone wanting a part of the goal fest as Matthew Lloyd, Hird, Winderlich and Brent Stanton aided the Bombers efforts on the scoreboard.

However the game looked all but over as Sheedy addressed his charges for the final time, trying to stir something in a side that faced a confronting 44-point margin heading into the final quarter of football.

As he had done so 635 times before, Sheedy did everything he could in an attempt to instil some pride and courage in the Bombers.

Whatever he said certainly had an effect on David Hille who led the charge out of the centre, while Scott Lucas went on a rampage up forward, kicking seven goals in the quarter and bringing the Eagles' lead back to manageable proportions.