A goal to All-Australian defender Cale Hooker late in the last quarter has given Essendon an emotional two point win over reigning premier Hawthorn.
The Hawks led by more than two goals late in the match but majors to Jake Carlisle and Travis Colyer gave the Bombers hope, before Hooker put the side in front with just a minute to play.
“Hawthorn filled up with their numbers so I just went down there with the numbers. Lucky enough the ball fell in my lap and it was a sweet feeling to sneak it through,” Hooker said.
“It has been a big pre-season for the boys, frustrating at times. It’s a really sweet taste for the whole group to get our first win for the season.”
Hooker collected 23 possessions and pulled in 10 marks.
He was a key component of an Essendon defensive group that held the multi-pronged Hawthorn forward line to 11 goals.
“The back six were pretty solid all night. We were under a lot of pressure in that last quarter. We just found a way to win and that’s what good teams do.”
The game looked set to be a repeat of round one when Essendon built a strong first half lead but was reeled in after the main break.
But this time the Bombers found something to pull off a remarkable win.
“We know our best can compete with the best. But we’ve still got some things to work on. We now we’ve got a lot of room for improvement,” Hooker said.
“It’s a really exciting group and we’re really excited about what we can achieve this season.”
