An undermanned Essendon has boosted its chances of playing finals football this season by producing a remarkable comeback to win a fourth match on the trot with a thrilling 21-point triumph over Adelaide on Friday night. 

The Bombers looked dead and buried when they trailed the Crows by 30 points late in the second quarter, but produced an amazing turnaround to kick 12 of the final 15 goals to register the 15.6 (96) to 10.15 (75) road victory.

With big man Reilly O'Brien dominant in the middle of the ground and fellow tall Josh Jenkins in form up forward, the Crows led comfortably during the second term and looked set to runaway to an easy victory. 

But this Essendon team is made of sterner stuff and veteran coach John Worsfold shuffled his side around as the Bombers came roaring back into the contest to draw level at three-quarter time. 

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Midfielder Zach Merrett - who was well held in the first half before sparking to life in the third term - gave the visitors their first lead of the night when he opened the scoring in the final quarter, and the Crows had no answers as the Bombers registered their first ever win over the Crows at Adelaide Oval.

Merrett finished with 31 disposals and two goals for the victors, while Mitch Brown (four goals) and Jake Stringer (two) were superb up forward and livewire Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti played a slightly different role a little bit further up the ground. 

Brad Crouch (35 touches) and younger brother Matt Crouch (33) won plenty of the ball for the Crows, while O'Brien battled hard to finish with 27 disposals and 39 hitouts against an undermanned Essendon ruck department. 

Jenkins' four-goals all came during the first half, while Brodie Smith - who wore number 26 on his back in the first half and number 33 after half-time - collected 31 disposals and kicked three goals.

Tom Lynch got the Crows rolling early with the opening goal of the contest after 10 minutes had elapsed and Jenkins also hit the scoreboard during a dour first term saw neither team willing to give an inch. 

Jenkins got on top of Cale Hooker in the second quarter with three goals as the Crows boosted their advantage to 30 points, forcing the Bombers to reshuffle their side in a bid to get back in the contest.

Stringer slotted a banana from the pocket to give the Dons hope and the decision to swing Hooker forward paid immediate dividends with the versatile big man goaling to bring the visitors within 19 points at the main break.

It looked like the Crows were going to run away again when Smith kicked truly to open the third term, but the Bombers booted four goals in quick succession - including a beautiful set shot from Brown - to draw level at the last change.

Merrett split the middle at the start of the final term to give the Bombers their first lead of the night, but the Crows responded through Smith and appeared best placed to close out the match and claim the points.

But Essendon showed it is a mature side, as Dyson Heppell kicked a true captain's goal and Merrett added another to help clinch the confidence-building victory.

MEDICAL ROOM

Adelaide: Veteran skipper Taylor Walker looked like he had re-injured his right elbow when he left the field midway through the opening term following a collision with Essendon defender Mason Redman. He got his elbow re-taped and returned to the field shortly after. 

Essendon: The Bombers appeared to get through the match relatively unscathed.

NEXT UP

Adelaide travels to Melbourne to take on an improved Carlton side at the MCG on Saturday afternoon, while Essendon is also on the road for its trip north to the Gold Coast to take on the Suns on Sunday.

ADELAIDE                    2.5       7.10     8.11     10.15 (75)
ESSENDON                 1.2       5.3       9.5       15.6 (96) 

GOALS

Adelaide: Jenkins 4, Smith 3, Lynch, Walker, Greenwood

Essendon: Brown 4, Stringer 2, Merrett 2, McDonald-Tipungwuti, Shiel, Snelling, Hooker, Guelfi, McGrath, Heppell

BEST 

Adelaide: Smith, B.Crouch, O'Brien, Jenkins, Lynch

Essendon: Merrett, Brown, Shiel, McKenna, Heppell, Zaharakis 

INJURIES 

Adelaide: Nil

Essendon: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Margetts, Hay, McInerney

Official crowd: 47,735 at Adelaide Oval