Essendon has kept its season alive with a hard-fought eight-point win against the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba on Saturday night.
Trailing by four points at the final change, the Bombers kicked the only two goals of the final quarter to win 9.11 (65) to 8.9 (57).
Trailing by four points at the final change, the Bombers kicked the only two goals of the final quarter to win 9.11 (65) to 8.9 (57).
The first was a miracle goal from Jackson Merrett, while Patrick Ryder sealed the win in the last minute from a tight angle after a mark.
The Bombers have crept into the top eight with a 4-4 record, but were anything but convincing ahead of Friday night's date with the in-form Sydney Swans.
"We've got the points, so you'd have to be happy with that, but not happy with the way we played and everybody could see that," Essendon coach Mark Thompson said.
"In the last quarter, from where I was, it felt like we were going to win the game.
"Our players stepped up that little notch and did enough to win … that's a good sign."
The Bombers will also be sweating on the availability of veteran Paul Chapman, who will almost certainly face scrutiny from the Match Review Panel for a second-quarter incident involving Lion Jack Redden.
Redden came away with a contested ball before Chapman raised his right elbow and caught the Lion across the face with a glancing blow.
It could have been much worse, with the impact minimal at most.
Essendon captain Jobe Watson (35 disposals) stood up under the fourth quarter heat to lead his team home.
Fellow midfield prime movers Dyson Heppell (35) and Brendon Goddard (30) also got plenty of the ball.
The Bombers' backline stood tall under intense pressure, led by Michael Hurley, Cale Hooker, Michael Hibberd and 39-year-old Dustin Fletcher.
Essendon led by as much as 20 points during the second quarter but had to withstand a fierce second half from a home team playing in retro Brisbane Bears guernseys to mark their upcoming Hall of Fame dinner.
The Lions, sparked by small forward Josh Green's three goals and vice-captain Tom Rockliff's 35 touches, kicked four goals to one in the third quarter to take the lead.
Teenagers Marco Paparone (29) and James Aish (23) were also superb in defeat.
The narrow loss completed another turbulent week for the Lions, following the resignation of chief executive Malcolm Holmes on Thursday.
Goddard also sent a scare through the Bombers during the second quarter when he reeled away from a contest with Andrew Raines clutching his jaw and cheek.
The two tough nuts approached a loose ball at high speed, but Raines got there first and turned his shoulder to protect the ball.
Goddard was a split second late and caught Raines' shoulder. He groggily walked off the field holding his face, but returned just minutes later.
The incidents spiced up a match that had lacked spark – if not endeavour – in the first quarter-and-a-half.
Green's goal on the half-time siren came after players from both sides got caught in some push-and-shove and the Lion received a 50m penalty.
