Essendon has rarely been a bigger outsider than when it faced the high-flying Geelong line-up in round 15, 2011.
The Cats hadn’t yet lost a game in what would ultimately become a premiership-winning season. The Bombers, on the other hand, had lost their last five games on the trot by an average of 34 points.
Early signs suggested more of the same from the sides as Geelong booted 3.3 to Essendon’s 0.1 in the opening 10 minutes of the clash.
But a vital goal to young gun Dyson Heppell, then in just his 14th game, sparked the Bombers into life and set off an unbelievable red and black run.
It was the first of six consecutive goals for the Dons, stunning the Cats who had been challenged so little throughout the year to date.
Even a pair of goals to experienced Cats James Kelly and Cameron Ling in the second term did little to perturb Essendon, which continued to heap pressure on its top-of-the-ladder opponent.
The first three goals of the third quarter to the Bombers made it a remarkable 11 out of the past 13 to the home side, which drew 33 points clear midway through the term.
But Geelong was a side you couldn’t keep down in its prime and it finally bit back, kicking the next four goals in just eight minutes.
Essendon wasn’t done yet, though, as the seesaw swung back in its favour with three more goals on the run to give it a 23-point buffer early in the final quarter.
Yet it still wasn’t over. Seven, yes seven, more goals to the Cats in the term made the Bombers work tirelessly for a classic victory – and work they did.
Important goals to David Hille, Travis Colyer and Stewart Crameri narrowly kept the side’s nose in front throughout the high-pressure term, before Jake Melksham finished off one of the club’s greatest team goals in the dying stages of the match to put the icing on a truly satisfying cake.
It was Melksham who claimed top votes in the Brownlow with 29 disposals, 12 contested possessions, eight clearances and seven tackles to go with the match-winning goal, while Ben Howlett (27 disposals, 13 contested possessions, nine tackles, six clearances and a goal) and Stewart Crameri (21 disposals, 12 contested possessions, four goal assists and two goals) were also influential.
ESSENDON 4.3 8.4 13.5 18.7 (115)
GEELONG 3.3 5.7 9.12 16.15 (111)
GOALS
Essendon: Monfries 3, Colyer 2, Crameri 2, Welsh 2, Davey, Heppell, Hille, Howlett, Jetta, Melksham, Reimers, Ryder, Zaharakis
Geelong: Johnson 3, Chapman 2, Christensen 2, Duncan 2, Kelly, Ling, Motlop, Ottens, Stokes, Vardy, Wojcinski
