Jobe Watson has made a stunning comeback to football leading the Bombers to a memorable 25-point win over Hawthorn.

The three time best and fairest winner picked up 27 possessions and laid eight tackles as the Dons rallied in the second half to beat their arch-rival.

After the Bombers burst out of the blocks, the Hawks took control either side of half time.

But a scintillating 12-minute burst from the Dons before three quarter time saw the side kick five straight goals to re-take the lead.

“It was just the ability of the guys to go back to what we know works for us and we didn’t panic,” Watson said.

“We just kept playing the way we wanted to.

“In games of footy there is going to be momentum shifts, sometimes the momentum shifts against you and it’s how well you cope with that … and then when you’ve got it, you’ve got to capitalise on it.

“I thought at different times we were good at defending when we had to and then at other times we were able to convert when we had a bit more momentum.

“There were some good signs and plenty of things to work on ahead of Brisbane next week.”

Almost 80,000 fans attended the game to mark the comeback of several Bombers stars.

The stadium was filled with a sea of red and black as the side entered the ground.

“It’s a pretty special stadium and it’s a pretty amazing feeling standing in the middle of it,” Watson said.

“Even before the game to be out on the MCG – probably the best stadium in the world – and to be going out to play a game ... to hear the crowd’s roar at the start was spine tingling stuff.”

The match was in the balance at three quarter time with the Dons leading by ten points.

Goals to Dyson Heppell and Cale Hooker extended the margin early in the last but it wasn’t until another goal to Heppell, his third, seemingly put the result beyond doubt.

“I came back on with about three minutes to go and it felt like we had it then,” Watson said.

“We had the game won and we were just enjoying being out there playing.”