The Bombers have pulled a rousing victory against Port Adelaide on Thursday night, with a four-goal-to-one final term lifting Essendon to their first win of the season.
Port Adelaide led at all the breaks, but the Bombers surged home when it mattered, with crucial goals from Nate Caddy and Sam Draper giving the Bombers their first four premiership points of the 2025 season.
It was an inaccurate and scrappy affair under the Marvel Stadium roof, with Port Adelaide set to rue late misses that sealed the win in Essendon's favour.
Attack lifts Essendon to victory as defence improves
While their defence was poor in patches, it solidified itself alongside Essendon's midfield and forward line. However, the attacking plays were clearly vital again, this time in victory.
The Bombers won the clearance +3, contested possession +28, inside 50 +15 and had seven more scoring shots.
While the Bombers conceded just 20 scoring shots to the Power, many goals came from untouched transition and undisciplined manning of key forwards, however it was overall an improved performance.
Coach Brad Scott said post-game their output was "solid" after two weeks of criticism over the club's defence.
"It was pretty solid. The criticism is warranted because the opposition kicked 160 points last week. I'm not interested in answering to the criticism," Scott said.
"I focus on the facts all the time, whether you win, lose or draw, and what we've got to work on. I think the most pleasing thing is when you have a disappointing performance, you get to choose how you respond to it.
"You can capitulate and it's all too hard and the pressure is overwhelming, or you can respond. And I think that's a pretty good measure of character."
The Bombers also finally made the most of their attacking prowess after two losses to start the season, despite winning the inside 50 and clearance in both the Essendon and Adelaide matches.
In Round 1, Jye Caldwell was the sole hard worker with 36 disposals and 10 clearances, while a 36-disposal, four-goal display from Zach Merrett carried the load in Round 2. Thursday night was a different story however, with multiple players contributing in the contest.
Dylan Shiel, Sam Durham, and Ben Hobbs, were the top clearance contributors, Zach Merrett, Durham, and Xavier Duursma were the top possession-getters, as Shiel and Durham generated the most inside 50s. It was Essendon's best collective effort of the season.
Port Adelaide impacted by lack of tall stocks
Port Adelaide were evidently hampered by their lack of key forwards, as Todd Marshall (Achilles), Jack Lukosius (knee) and Ollie Lord (shoulder) sit on the sideline with injuries.
Mitch Georgiades sparked a strong first half with two goals, two behinds and seven score involvements, but as he quietened, the Power struggled to find opportunity inside 50.
Ken Hinkley said the next period without their talls will be a "challenge".
"We're thin on our talls, but that's going to be a challenge for a little period of time, but we're okay," Hinkley said.
"We can manufacture a way to get the points if we play better as a collective through the whole game."
New recruits impress
Essendon's Saad El-Hawli's first touch of AFL football was the ignitor of Essendon's fourth-quarter surge, gathering a one-two possession off halfback before taking a running bounce, selling candy to Kane Farrell, and ultimately sparking the play that resulted in a goal.
Port Adelaide's youngest crop of talent have also continued to seamlessly adapt to the top flight, with strong performances again by Joe Berry and Christian Moraes.
Despite the loss, Berry was influential in the first half and recorded 15 disposals for the match, while Moraes was a ball-magnet, collecting 27 disposals for the match.
Tom Cochrane was also influential as the sub, nearly nailing a boundary line drop punt.
