AFTER a trying season, Essendon fans finally have reason to smile with the Bombers stealing a thrilling three-point victory from Collingwood at the MCG on Sunday afternoon.
As the sun set on the 2015 home and away season, a healthy crowd of 40,270 watched as Heath Hocking sealed the Bombers' first win since round 15 - 14.11 (95) to 14.8 (92)
Hocking kicked a goal with less than a minute-and-a-half on the clock to give the Dons the match-winning lead, before the ball was pushed to the Pies' attacking end as the siren approached.
But a free kick was awarded to Cale Hooker in a marking contest as the Pies went inside 50 with 23 seconds left, which saw the ball end up on the city side wing as the siren rang.
It was welcome relief for the Bombers, who hadn't tasted victory under interim coach Matt Egan and have endured a rough season dogged by the on-going ASADA and WADA situation, and the resignation of coach James Hird.
"I'm extremely proud," Egan said post-match.
"It was an interesting game. There were skill errors for both teams but we're absolutely rapt they kept playing.
"Their attitude was outstanding and [it was] probably our best four-quarter consistent patch we've played.
"The players are absolutely rapt. It's been a tough year for them. Seeing them at the end it was great reward for such a tough year."
Their sixth win for the season was led by Brent Stanton, who collected 30 disposals and kicked three goals, all of which came in the second quarter.
Dyson Heppell was also important for the Bombers with 28 and eight clearances, while promoted rookie Shaun McKernan was excellent in the ruck and around the ground.
Hocking was influential with three goals, none more important than his second and third – the last two of the game - that stole the win after the Pies led for much of the second half.
After the first quarter went goal for goal, the Bombers' first move came early in the second when they kicked three unanswered majors.
Stanton put together a terrific term, equalling his career-best goal haul with three; the third of which was set up by Joe Daniher after a remarkable comeback from a first-term head knock in the opening minute.
Daniher was on the ground for a few minutes after crashing into both Ben Reid and Taylor Adams, but returned to the field for the second term after serving 20 minutes as the concussion substitute.
While Stanton threatened to blow the lacklustre Pies away, Ben Kennedy did well up the other end to boot two goals for the term and keep his team in it.
Still, a lack of pressure and the alarming statistic of just 17 tackles to half-time showed the Pies were a long way off the team that surprised Geelong last round.
Four Magpie goals in a row in the third quarter turned a 14-point deficit after Hocking nailed the term's opener into a nine-point lead.
Adams was influential in the quarter with a hand in the first two goals as the Pies looked to have regained control over the contest.
He was their best player with 33 disposals and seven clearances, while Steele Sidebottom was also prolific through the midfield.
But they had no answers as the Bombers ground out the win to give themselves something to celebrate as they look towards the pre-season.
For the Magpies, it was the seventh loss by three goals or less this year, but coach Nathan Buckley said there was still plenty to be gained from the season.
"The short term always seems to cloud the long term, or the last step clouds the bigger picture," Buckley said.
"The message to our supporters, as much to our players, is that we're on the right path.
"We've got the right characters, players that are made of the right stuff, we're growing and learning and evolving as an organisation and we're in much better shape than we were 12, 24 months ago.
"Results like today just highlight how on you need to be all of the time."
COLLINGWOOD 4.2 8.3 12.5 14.8 (92)
ESSENDON 3.2 9.5 11.7 14.11 (95)
GOALS
Collingwood: Kennedy 2, White 2, Blair 2, Fasolo 2, Adams, Moore, Elliott, Crisp, Greenwood, Reid,
Essendon: Stanton 3, Hocking 3, Hooker 2, J Merrett, McKernan, Goddard, Melksham, Zaharakis, McKenna
BEST
Collingwood: Adams, Sidebottom, White, Fasolo, Marsh, Reid
Essendon: Stanton, Heppell, McKernan, Hocking, Zaharakis, Fantasia
INJURIES
Collingwood: Brown (cut head), Grundy (back soreness)
Essendon: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Collingwood: Alan Toovey replaced Brodie Grundy (back soreness) in the third quarter
Essendon: Shaun Edwards replaced Elliott Kavanagh in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: O'Gorman, Deboy, Ryan, Armstrong
Official crowd: 42,270 at the MCG
