BOMBERS ARE BACK
ESSENDON have pulled off a fairytale AFL comeback, snatching a pulsating 25-point upset win over Hawthorn at the MCG.
Bolstered by the return of six players from doping bans, the Bombers trailed at halftime last night but surged home with five straight goals in a dominant third quarter to pave the way for a memorable win.
Reigning best-and-fairest Zach Merrett was outstanding in the midfield with 37 disposals, while crafty small forward Orazio Fantasia led the goalscoring tally with four majors in the 17.14 (116) to 12.19 (91) triumph.
The thrilling opening-round triumph shows that the Bombers will be a force to be reckoned with this year after claiming the wooden spoon in 2016. Essendon’s 22 included six players – Jobe Watson, Dyson Heppell, Travis Colyer, Cale Hooker, Michael Hurley and Brent Stanton – who were banned for all of last season over the 2012 supplements saga.
And the club made no secret of the emotion surrounding their return, handing out 18,000 commemorative “Comeback Story” shirts to create a sea of red and black in the members’ section of the MCG.
The roar that greeted the players as they ran onto the ground was only topped when Watson, one of Windy Hill’s most beloved sons, took his first mark on the wing in the opening minutes.
And the Bombers responded with an electric start, with goals to Fantasia, Hooker and Joe Daniher handing them a 13-point lead at the first break.
Hawthorn had their own comeback story with skipper Jarryd Roughead making his first regular season appearance since being declared cancerfree.
But if the emotion of his return was driving the Hawks - who lined up without any of Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell or Jordan Lewis for the first time since Round 10, 2002 – it wasn’t evident from their sluggish first quarter.
Hawthorn kicked into gear in the second term, driven by star recruit Tom Mitchell whose performance at the coalface showed what an important player he will be for his new side.
Mitchell (37 touches) led the Hawks to an eight-point lead at halftime, and it appeared the Bombers were running out of steam.