Essendon has ended a six-match losing streak and pushed into the top eight with a 45-point win over Footscray.

In intermittent wind and rain at Windy Hill, the Bombers broke a half-time deadlock to produce a powerhouse second half. Essendon slammed on 8.6 to nine behinds after the main break to storm home 12.13 (85) to 4.16 (40).

The match was played at a frenetic pace in the first half with neither side taking a backwards step when it came to physicality in the stoppages. Scores were tied at 31 apiece at half-time and the match was there to be won. With finals chances on the line it was the Bombers who stood tall.

By winning the ball via follow-up efforts and intense pressure at the stoppages and driving forward through gut-busting offensive run, Essendon opened the game up in the third quarter.

Alex Boyse, Sam Draper, James Stewart, Danny Younan and debutant Jacob Brown found space to get their hands on the ball and kick goals to turn the tide towards the boys in red and black.

Although their 30-point three-quarter-time buffer was handy, it was in the final quarter that the Bombers drove the nails into the Bulldogs’ coffin.

Matt Leuenberger, Nick Hind and James Stewart kicked goals to ensure that Essendon not only held its ground but extended the lead and had the four points well within its keeping by the time the final siren rang out on its home turf.

Stewart’s work rate was pivotal with the key forward pushing hard all over the ground to involve his teammates while snaring three goals himself. At the other end of the ground, Jordan Ridley’s poise and effective ball use was instrumental.

Bruno Laguda took the next step in his return from an ACL injury while Aaron Heppell’s good form continued as the vice-captain’s ability to use the ball efficiently with limited time broke the stoppages to put Essendon into attack.

East Point development train-on squad member Jacob Brown had a debut to remember, running into space to kick two goals.

“Our forwards got up and competed really well and gave us a chance to still score against the wind,” coach Dan Jordan said after the match.

“In that last quarter, we just wanted to play the ball in tight, get repeat stoppages and make it congested around there and make it really hard for them to score; I though the boys executed that really well across the board in all lines.”

The win sees the Bombers vault Footscray into eighth place, with Jordan saying his charges’
“destiny is in our hands” going into the final round of the home and away season against the Northern Blues.

“We’re looking forward to playing four quarters of footy.”

Essendon faces the Northern Blues next Saturday at Windy Hill from 12pm.

ESSENDON   2.6    4.7    9.11  12.13 (85)
FOOTSCRAY 1.1    4.7    4.11  4.16 (40)

GOALS
Essendon – Leuenberger 3, Stewart 3, Brown 2, Draper, Boyse, Younan, Hind
Footscray – Monfries 2, English, Tashevski-Beckwith

BEST
Ridley, Stewart, Clarke, Laguda, Hind, Heppell