Bombers show real grit

A SPIRITED Essendon pulled off a win for the ages after it lost five players moments before the bounce.

Not only did the Bombers need to overcome a late reshuffle, but they trailed Hawthorn at every change, staging a remarkable final-quarter fightback to win 16.12 (108) to 11.15 (81).

The Hawks were left to rue poor goalkicking and left the job to too few.

Two Rising Star hopefuls led their sides from the front, but it was Nic Martin and his last quarter that ultimately prevailed over Jai Newcombe’s career-best game.

Hawthorn made the most of Essendon’s pre-game personnel debacle to get the jump on the Bombers, taking an 11point lead into quarter-time. It should have been more for the Hawks who were wasteful in front of goal.

Essendon was on the back foot before a ball had been kicked, making five late changes due to illness.

Jordan Ridley, Jake Kelly, Matt Guelfi, Sam Durham and Alec Waterman were all withdrawn from the Bombers’ side an hour before the game.

Remarkably, Devon Smith was one of the five inclusions after being ruled out for at least two weeks with a knee injury just days before the game.