This moment is the 29th of a virtual series presenting the Bombers' best 30 moments over 150 years, which fans can vote on for their chance to win prizes. Click here to view and vote, and see the schedule and prizes below.
Every young Essendon supporter dreams of kicking the winning goal on the MCG, and in round five in 2009, against Collingwood in the annual Anzac Day clash, 19-year-old David Zaharakis got to live out that fantasy.
Before being drafted to the Bombers with selection No.23 in the 2008 draft, ‘Zacka’ had been a passionate supporter of the club; being recruited to Windy Hill was a dream come true. But what occurred in his fourth League game took that fantasy to a whole new level.
Zaharakis recalled, “It was my first year, fourth game, first Anzac Day experience, which was amazing in itself. They do the Last Post and 85,000 people are silent, and, to be a kid in one of your first games, it’s incredible. The first time I went to an Anzac Day match was in 1998 (Collingwood won by 20 points), and as an Essendon supporter growing up it was amazing just to be there.”
In the 2009 version, in front of a crowd of 84,829, the Magpies jumped out to an early 15-point lead, with scores level by half-time. At three quarter-time, Essendon had edged nine points in front. However, it appeared the Magpies would run away with the match when they opened up a 14-point lead at the 25-minute mark of the final term. The lights were on, the rain tumbling down, and the Bombers’ mission seemed an impossible one.
But then, Andrew Lovett bounced his way through the centre and passed to Leroy Jetta. Jetta sidestepped Alan Toovey and snapped a clever goal. Eight points down. Some good forward-half pressure 30 seconds later forced Leon Davis to kick out on the full, thereby handing Ricky Dyson a free-kick in the right forward pocket at the city end. From 50 metres out on the boundary, Dyson slotted a brilliant goal to cut the margin to two points. Nearly 28 minutes had passed.
The Magpies went forward from the next centre bounce, but the Bombers quickly rebounded. Lovett won the ball at centre half-back and found a sliding Angus Monfries, he handballed to the running Dyson who kicked long; Jetta fumbled in the goal square and the ball rolled through for a point. One point down after 29-and-a-half minutes.
Essendon gained control of the Collingwood kick-in. Jason Winderlich dished off to Heath Hocking who found Nathan Lovett-Murray, who gave a short pass to Zaharakis on the Bombers’ attacking 50-metre line. Zacka played on immediately. Later, he explained of that decision: “All I remember is making that split-second decision not to go back and have the set shot, because I knew I was on my distance range. It was just instinct to play on. I didn’t know if there was pressure around me. From there on, it’s a blur.”
In the commentary box, Channel 10’s Stephen Quartermain described the kick which came just before Collingwood’s Brent Macaffer could lay a tackle. “It’s a mark to Zaharakis…Zaharakis has kicked a goal! The Bombers are in front at the ’G!” Said Zaharakis: “I remember being on the ground and seeing the ball go through, and bodies all in front of me. Then I jumped up and Jobe Watson came and hugged me, so it was pretty amazing by then.” The goal was just his eighth kick of the afternoon, and what a kick it was.
Five seconds later, after the next centre bounce, the siren sounded. Essendon had pulled off the impossible: 13.15 (93) to 12.16 (88).
“To be able to do something in your fourth game, on the biggest day outside of a Grand Final, for a club that you’ve supported your whole life, I look back and think that it was a pretty amazing thing to achieve,” Zaharakis said.
“I think I had about 100 messages on my phone afterwards, all my school mates were texting me. I was only six months out of school, don’t forget.”
SCHEDULE OF MOMENTS
Round 1 (launching May 6) - 1872-1939
Round 2 (launching May 10) - 1940-1959
Round 3 (launching May 15) - 1960-1979
Round 4 (launching May 20) - 1980-1989
Round 5 (launching May 25) - 1990-1999
Round 6 (launching May 30) - 2000-2021
Round 7 (launching June 4) - Finals round
PRIZES
Round 1 – One 2022 merchandise pack, including an Essendon New Era Black on Black 9FORTY Snapback cap ($40) and an Essendon Heritage Bar Scarf ($30)
Round 2 – One Essendon Fibre of Football Scarf ($80)
Round 3 - One Essendon Football Club 150-year anniversary commemorative mosaic ($295)
Round 4 – One Essendon Football Club 150-year anniversary commemorative mosaic ($295)
Round 5 – One 2022 team-signed guernsey ($500)
Round 6 – One copy of the Red & Black Collection special 150th anniversary book ($329)
Round 7 – One copy of the Red & Black Collection special 150th anniversary book ($329) and one 2022 team-signed guernsey ($500)
