FIVE goals straight from Joe Daniher has been the catalyst for Essendon's first win since round eight, with a pressure-lifting nine-point victory over Melbourne. 

After being stung by 110 points by St Kilda last Sunday, the Bombers looked to be in crisis with the future of James Hird making headlines early in the week. 

But the players showed remarkable spirit on Saturday at the MCG to starve off a late Demons comeback that cut the margin to two points and shelve their five-game losing streak, 10.9 (69) to 7.18 (60). 

Paul Roos' men were in the contest to the main break, with the slick conditions caused by a pre-game burst of heavy rain contributing to the tight slog.

But they had no answers as Daniher found the accuracy that has plagued his form in recent weeks.

Daniher (three goals) and Shaun Edwards (two) inspired the Bombers' six-goal-to-one third quarter, as Melbourne's forwards failed to fire. 

Then, the Demons fluffed five consecutive shots at goal early in the fourth – with defender Tom McDonald a repeat offender – before he and Jeff Garlett finally converted. 

In the telling third term, Jesse Hogan and Chris Dawes were blanketed by Michael Hurley – who was outstanding - and James Gwilt, and struggled to find a clean possession. 

It didn't help that Hogan and Jeremy Howe both spent time off the field having ankle injuries treated.

Howe was one of six single goal-kickers, and will await the outcome of the Match Review Panel that will look at his second-quarter tackle on Alex Browne that hovered dangerously close to a slinging motion. 

Browne, in his first game in two and a half years, was subbed out with concussion after hitting his head on the turf in the incident.

The Bombers were led in the midfield by Brendon Goddard (29 disposals) and Brent Stanton (30), who both bounced back from disappointing performances against the Saints last week.

They managed the win despite acting captain Dyson Heppell being curbed by Jack Viney, and Shaun McKernan soundly beaten by Max Gawn.

The loss of Jobe Watson and Adam Cooney cut the Dons' experience levels, which was compounded further on Friday by the withdrawal of Jake Melksham and Heath Hocking. 

But despite fielding a team with 12 players with less than 40 games to their name (the Demons had seven), the Bombers found a way to put a tough week behind them.

ESSENDON  1.3    3.4   9.7   10.9 (69)
MELBOURNE  1.3  3.9  4.13  7.18 (60) 

GOALS
Essendon: Daniher 5, Edwards 2, Howlett, Stanton, Heppell
Melbourne: Tyson, Howe, vandenBerg, Hogan, Jetta, Garlett, McDonald 

BEST 
Essendon: Hurley, Daniher, Stanton, Goddard, Heppell, Gwilt
Melbourne: Gawn, Vince, Jones, vandenBerg, McDonald, Dunn, Viney 

INJURIES 
Essendon: Alex Browne (concussion)
Melbourne: Nil 

SUBSTITUTES
Essendon: Jason Ashby replaced Alex Browne (concussion) in the second quarter
Melbourne: Jay Kennedy-Harris replaced James Harmes in the third quarter 

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Deboy, Schmitt, Mitchell 

Official crowd: 38,861 at the MCG