Brad Scott’s Bombers have snared victory from the jaws of defeat, pulling off a come-from-behind upset win over St Kilda at Marvel Stadium.
The Saints held the lead from the opening score through until the 20-minute mark of the final term and threatened to break the game open for the entire clash.
But Essendon was the better, more composed side late in the game and when Jake Stringer kicked his third goal to gran back the lead, Bombers fans rose as one.
Brad Scott’s side worked its way on top of clearances and contested possessions late in the game as St Kilda fell to pieces, with Saturday’s contest set saying plenty about the September contenders in 2024.
The margin ended at four points, with the Bombers picking up their second win for the season and knocking off a fellow September contender in the process.
Here's what we thought of every player.
ESSENDON
Nick Martin: A
27 disposals in the first half is a simply ridiculous number. Didn’t always use it perfectly but had a big impact running off half-back. Ended with 44 disposals.
Andrew McGrath: A-
Some 14 less touches than Martin but not far off in metres gained. His goal in the third term came at a big time. 13 intercepts is a new addition to his name.
Dyson Heppell: A-
Looked slow on occasion and his disposal was questionable early, but grew into the game to prove a consistent calm head in defence and on the wing.
Zach Merrett: A-
Wasn’t at his brilliant ball-winning best early but lifted significantly in the final term to get his side home.
Xavier Duursma: B+
His best game for the Bombers, Duursma finished with 22 touches, a goal and plenty of big moments.
Jake Stringer: B+
Doesn’t have to be your day but it can still your moment. No one in footy lives that more than Jake Stringer, who was dreadful all day but kicked the bomb from outside 50 that gave Essendon the lead for the first time. How do you grade that? We went with a B+ for two last-quarter goals.
Harrison Jones: B+
A late inclusion for the Bombers, Jones may have done enough to hold his spot for Gather Round with Peter Wright still out. Proved a factor, especially in the first half, and kicked two goals.
Mason Redman: B
Jayden Laverde: B
Was a great matchup for Mitch Owens and kept the budding star relatively quiet inside 50.
Jye Caldwell: B
Kyle Langford: B-
Was symbolic of his side’s fumbles under the roof at Marvel. Several dropped marks and missed opportunities hurt, but three goals helps to make up for it.
Ben McKay: B-
McKay’s direct opponent, Anthony Caminiti, had more of an impact than a few would have expected. Still finished with an equal team-high 13 intercept possessions, the second most for Essendon.
Darcy Parish: B-
Looked a bit off in his first game for the season. Had no dramas finding the footy, however, picking up 26.
Nik Cox: B+
Sam Draper: C+
Still looks to be building match fitness and finding his way in a one-two combination with Goldstein. A defining mark in the final minute.
Archie Perkins: C
Ben Hobbs: C
Jake Kelly: C
Serviceable in game 150 but didn’t do anything special.
Todd Goldstein: C-
Just couldn’t get into the clash, despite playing predominantly in the ruck and Sam Draper spending plenty of time up forward. The least disposals and hitouts of all three big men on the ground.
Jade Gresham: D
Couldn’t get near it despite spending 79 time on ground. A really dirty game in a clash where he would have loved to prove a few Saints fans wrong.
Jye Menzie: D
The only forward on the ground to finish with less than two or less score involvements.
Sam Durham: N/A*
Subbed out in the third term with what the Bombers labelled a shoulder injury after a strong first half.
Nick Hind: N/A*
Came on in the third term for an injured Durham.
ST KILDA
Seb Ross: A
Eight score involvements in the first half alone and finished with 11 from 28 touches.
Brad Hill: A
Played his role to a tee and when many struggled with ball in hand, Hill excelled. He went at 84 disposal efficiency and pumped the ball forward with seven inside 50s.
Jack Steele: A-
Another tradesman-like effort from the skipper. A team-high seven tackles.
Rowan Marshall: B+
Cleary got the better of Essendon’s ruckmen but made some strange decisions with the ball in hand. Did find his way into eight intercept possessions, however.
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera: B+
Continues to grow in front of our eyes and is almost the Saints’ primary distributor out of the back half.
Jack Higgins :B+
Backed up last week’s impressive display with another three on Saturday evening. Looks to be back to his creative best.
Jack Sinclair: B
Is no longer the sole rebounder out of defensive 50 for the Saints but still finds a way to impact.
Riley Bonner: B
A massive third term underpinned Bonner’s Saturday evening and finished with 32 disposals. Would have been graded better but 17 turnovers was a clear game-high.
Callum Wilkie: B
An intriguing contest against Kyle Langford where the Bomber arguably could and should have made Wilkie pay more.
Mitch Owens: B-
Started like a house on fire but was barely sighted after that. Only the 13 possessions but made them count with six score involvements.
Josh Battle: B-
Spent most of the clash opposed to Harrison Jones and battled hard.
Mattaes Phillipou: C+
Impacted the game in a sublime first half that had everything, but faded out after that. Burnt his teammates in the dying minutes when having a shot for goal.
Zaine Cordy: C+
Anthony Caminiti: C+
Max King’s replacement this week, Caminiti battled hard and was a factor early before fading out of the contest.
Marcus Windhager: C
Liam Stocker: C
Ryan Byrnes: C
Tim Membrey: C
Cooper Sharman: C-
Spent much of the game opposed to Nik Cox and was beaten. Had he kicked straight it could have been a slightly different story.
Dan Butler: C-
It was only for poor defending that Butler got his only goal and he didn’t help set up enough scores.
Zak Jones: C-
Darcy Wilson: *
Set up against Xavier Duursma on the wing but couldn’t influence the contest in the same way as his opponent.
Angus Hastie: N/A
Came on at the final break as the substitute for his debut.