Bombers in thriller
B. Dale 4, S. Lloyd 3, B. Smith 2, M. Bontempelli 2, A. Naughton, J. Johannissen, L. Hunter, P. Lipinski, R. West.
A. Brayshaw 3, D. Tucker 2, L. Schultz, M. Walters, R. Conca, R. Lobb.
M. Bontempelli, J. Macrae, B. Dale, C. Daniel, J. Johannissen, J. Dunkley, L. Hunter.
A. Brayshaw, N. Fyfe, B. Hill, M. Walters, C. Blakely. 21,181 at Marvel Stadium.
J. Stringer 4, S. McKernan 4, M. Brown 3, A. McGrath, C. Hooker, D. Parish, D. Shiel, K. Langford.
B. King 4, S. Day 3, B. Fiorini 2, P. Wright 2, A. Sexton, C. Burgess, D. Swallow, T. Miller.
J. Stringer, S. McKernan, D. Shiel, M. Redman, Z. Merrett, A. McGrath
J. Witts, B. Fiorini, J. Harbrow, T. Miller, P. Hanley, B. King. 15,759 at Metricon Stadium. GOALS in the dying seconds by Cale Hooker and Jake Stringer secured Essendon a narrow 10-point win over Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium last night.
The Bombers were two points behind with just over a minute to play when Hooker slotted a set shot to put the visitors in front.
From the resulting centre bounce, Stringer came away with the ball and booted it from inside the centre square, his shot bouncing through to seal a 16.10 (106) to 15.6 (96) win.
The goal was Stringer’s fourth in a best-on-ground display and secured the Bombers their fifth-straight win.
The Suns’ 14th defeat in a row was harsh on the hosts, who thought they might have secured a massive upset when Chris Burgess scored with 2½ minutes to play to put Gold Coast ahead.
Burgess earlier was at the centre of a highly controversial goal-umpiring decision in the third quarter.
A set shot by David Zaharakis was tapped back into play by Burgess, despite appearing to have crossed the goal line.
Replays showed the ball was well over the line.