The Sydney Swans have booted seven goals to nothing in the final term to overcome a 41-point deficit and outlast a determined Essendon by 12 points at ANZ Stadium.

The home side looked dead and buried entering time-on of the third quarter, when Adam Cooney's third goal extended the margin to 41 points.

However, a late goal to Jeremy Laidler reduced the gap to 34 points at three-quarter-time, giving the 2014 grand finalists some hope.

Then, Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippett came alive in the final term, each booting two goals to lift the Swans to an unlikely 10.12 (72) - 9.6 (60) victory.

And Swans debutant Isaac Heeney capped off his first AFL game in style with the sealer three minutes from time.

Essendon had led for most of the afternoon, booting five goals to one point in the first term to open up a 26-point advantage at quarter-time. It was the Swans' first scoreless first quarter since round seven 2012.

Despite the wet conditions, the Bombers for the most part looked assured in possession, moving the footy down the field with precision and purpose.

The Swans lifted in the second term, winning a greater share of possession and restoring the imbalance in the inside 50 count. However, there was little to show for it on the scoreboard with just one goal for the term.

The Bombers appeared to have put the game beyond doubt with a four-goal-to-two third term that left the club up by 34 points with one quarter to play.

However, a lack of match practice - a fair chunk of the Bombers squad were playing their first match of the year as they sat out the pre-season matches while awaiting a ruling from the AFL's Anti-Doping Tribunal - may have proved the difference with the visitors scoreless in the last quarter.

The tribunal this week cleared 34 past and present Essendon players of taking a prohibited substance.

And James Hird was back in the coach's box for the first time in more than a year, having taken the entire 2014 season off.

Brownlow medallist and ex-Western Bulldog Cooney booted three goals in his first game in the red and black, while Essendon skipper Jobe Watson was fantastic with 22 possessions and six tackles.

The Bombers' defensive unit was also good for three quarters, with Hurley keeping Franklin in check for the most part, while Cale Hooker limited the influence of Tippett.

To add to the Bombers' disappointment, the club lost David Myers to a left shoulder injury just five minutes into the match.

The Swans, who were looking to put their disappointing 2014 grand final performance behind them at the start of a new season, were led by Luke Parker and Josh Kennedy who both had more than 30 touches.

But Parker's day was cut short when he was concussed in a heavy collision with Franklin early in the last quarter.

SYDNEY SWANS      0.1   2.7    3.8    10.12 (72)                

ESSENDON               4.3   5.5    9.6       9.6   (60)     

GOALS
Sydney Swans: Franklin 3, Tippett 2, Bird 2, Laidler, Jack, Heeney

Essendon: Cooney 3, Daniher, Colyer, Watson, Heppell, Melksham, Goddard 

BEST 
Sydney Swans: Parker, Jack, Kennedy, Laidler, Grundy, Bird

Essendon: Heppell, Melksham, Watson, Hurley, Cooney, Hooker 

INJURIES 
Sydney Swans: Parker (concussion)

Essendon: Myers (shoulder) 

SUBSTITUTES
Sydney Swans: Jake Lloyd replaced Adam Goodes in the third quarter

Essendon: Ben Howlett replaced David Myers in the first quarter

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Dalgleish, Chamberlain, Armstrong

Official crowd: 23,274 at ANZ Stadium