James Hird celebrates with Brent Stanton. Picture: Getty
ESSENDON has made bigger comebacks in its celebrated history.
It has dominated arch-rivals on the biggest stage to snare the premiership.
But has it ever staged such an astonishing comeback as last night, when after the most controversial week of the club's history it seized a victory it had no right to even dream about.
Live HQ: Fremantle v Essendon
Down by six goals at halftime, and as much as 37 points on the night, the Bombers looked out of legs and out of hope.
AFL. Essendon vs. Fremantle at Subiaco Oval in Perth. Coach James Hird talks at Quarter Time. Picture: Coppel Alex Source:
"Overwhelmed", admitted assistant coach Mark Thompson of their halftime mindset, as Fremantle went to town on a slippery night that played into the Dockers' crushing pressure.
"They have done our heads in," he was frank enough to admit.
Yet two quarters later Essendon somehow walked off Patersons Stadium as the winner.
Have we ever seen the like of it?
This game had everything: scores level with five minutes left, then Essendon going ahead with a minute left through Paddy Ryder's curling left kick.
Then came the final dramatic moments, as first Paul Duffield's kick bounced left in front of goal, then Chris Mayne's left-foot snap from straight in front hit the post.
James Hird might still be removed as Essendon coach, and the club might end up penalised for its drug breaches, but this was a win to thrust all of that negativity away for one stunning night.
Match report: Bombers' miracle escape
Essendon's players are used to life under siege, harried by the media pack, the players are pressured for time and space as they walk to training, and are constantly awaiting the next assault.
For an entire half last night Fremantle coach Ross Lyon replicated that battle plan against Hird's mentally battered Bombers, and found it was just as effective on-field as off it.
Essendon was shot. Dead and buried. Done and dusted.
Jobe Watson was the triumphant matchwinner against Adelaide, but by half time against Matthew De Boer just two of his seven possessions were effective.
How easily would it have been for Essendon to drift quietly into the night?
AFL. Essendon vs. Fremantle at Subiaco Oval in Perth. Brent Stanton and Tendai Mzungu Picture: Coppel Alex Source:
Six goals down at the half: too hard, too mentally drained, too much effort to get back into the game.
What followed was something amazing, even given the week of torture for players and coach.
Even if the effort to come back into the game had not won them the night, this was something to behold.
No player threw in the towel, no player let their mind wonder about whether coach Hird might still even be there next week.
Instead, they did what sides with real character do: they set about trying to take down an opponent with enough momentum to stop a train.
For one quarter filled with those old-fashioned words like grit and heart, Essendon threw its best at Fremantle.
The rallying cry came from the midfield, which suddenly began overlapping and pumping the ball into an open forward line.
First came Stewart Crameri's clever snap for a goal; then Elliott Kavanagh's quick snap from the pack.
By the time Essendon had dominated Fremantle to kick the only five goals of the third term to drag the margin back to three points, no one was doubting this club's fighting spirit any more.
Were the players doing it for the coach? Were they letting out a week of frustration?
Or is this side just talented, and filled with enough quality to make a serious tilt at this year's premiership.
How can anyone quantify exactly how much of a toll the constant focus on their coach and club's practices took on Essendon players last night.
Brendon Goddard summed it up best last night: "With respect to my old club, that was one of the best wins I have ever been involved in."
AFL. Essendon vs. Fremantle at Subiaco Oval in Perth. Picture: Coppel Alex Source:
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