Sydney has held on for a thrilling 15.11 (101) to 15.9 (99) victory over Essendon.
The Swans kept their finals hope alive and put a major dent in the Bombers' own top-eight aspirations by securing a third straight win at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.
Sydney led by as much as 37 points early in the third quarter before the Bombers' midfield and inside-50 dominance finally started to impact the scoreboard.
Essendon cut the lead to just two points with five minutes left but electric forward Tom Papley stepped up to bomb the Swans' only goal of the final quarter from 60m out.
Jye Menzie goaled back for the Bombers, but it was too late as the ball went back to the middle with six seconds to play.
Essendon forward Kyle Langford continued his brilliant season by nailing five goals, but it will come as little consolation to the Bombers who won the inside-50s 69-47 and their finals hopes could be over.
ESSENDON 5.2 7.4 10.6 15.9 (99)
SYDNEY 5.1 10.5 14.7 15.11 (101)
GOALS
Essendon: Langford 5, Wright 4, Martin, Perkins, Hind, Caldwell, Durham, Menzie
Sydney: Amartey 4, Wicks 3, Heeney 2, Papley 2, Warner, McInerney, McDonald, Gulden
BEST
Essendon: Merrett, Langford, Caldwell, Parish, Heppell
Sydney: Gulden, Lloyd, Warner, Campbell, Amartey
INJURIES
Essendon: TBC
Sydney: Franklin (Calf)
LATE CHANGES
Essendon: Will Snelling, replaced in the selected side by Alwyn Davey jnr
Sydney: None
SUBSTITUTES
Essendon: Will Snelling (replaced Alwyn Davey jnr in the third quarter)
Sydney: Ryan Clarke (replaced Lance Franklin in the second quarter)
Crowd: 38,319 at Marvel Stadium
