Essendon has come from five goals down to stun Carlton in a classic at the MCG on Friday night, Jake Melksham’s set shot inside the last two minutes seeing the Bombers to a remarkable five-point win.

The Bombers trailed by 31 points at the 14-minute mark of the third term and, at the time, had kicked just one goal since the eight-minute mark of the first quarter.

But Essendon kicked the final three goals of the third term and carried the momentum into the last term, piling on five goals to the Blues' two to record a stirring 11.11 (77) to 10.12 (72) win.

The Bombers had plenty of heroes.

There was Melksham, who kicked the game-winning goal from 45 metres at the 28-minute mark of the last term, and two of the game's last three goals, both of which put his side back in front.

There was Jason Winderlich, who ran past Carlton sub Chris Yarran like he was standing still to intercept a Blues kick out of defence and pass the ball to Melksham.

And there was Jake Carlisle, who bounced back from a thrashing from Jarrad Waite in the first half to take a game-saving pack mark in the dying seconds the sealed the result after a gripping final term.

Carlisle also gave the Bombers a spark in the second half when sent forward, taking nine second-half marks and kicking a goal as Michael Hurley was sent back in an attempt to quell the rampant Waite.

Waite was absolutely outstanding for the Blues, kicking a career-high seven goals, including five in the first half.

The Blues would be bitterly disappointed to lose a game they led most of the night, but coach Mick Malthouse would have been proud of the fight they showed after the surging Bombers hit the front at the 13-minute mark of the final quarter.

They hit straight back through a goal to Waite and were not headed until Melksham's goal in the dying minutes.

Essendon's win was even more remarkable given their two senior midfielders, Jobe Watson and Brent Stanton, were well held by Jaryd Cachia and Ed Curnow respectively.

Dyson Heppell (28 possessions), David Zaharakis (23) and Brendon Goddard (23) helped pick up some of the slack for the Bombers.

For the Blues, skipper Marc Murphy was outstanding with a game-high 31 possessions and was well supported by Andrew Walker (28) and Bryce Gibbs (26). Lachie Henderson and Michael Jamison also defended stoutly all night.

The Bombers kicked the opening two goals of the game, but Carlton dominated the rest of the first half.

Initially the Blues struggled to capitalise on the scoreboard, with their delivery inside forward 50 letting them down.

Despite leading the inside 50 count 18-6 in the first quarter, the Blues kicked just 1.4 to go into quarter-time three points down.

But Waite imposed himself on the game in the second quarter, almost singlehandedly ensuring the Blues started to get reward for their effort.

Having kicked the Blues' only goal of the first term, Waite kicked the opening four of the second term to give him the last five in the game to that point.  

His seventh for the night gave the Blues a one-point lead with 10 minutes remaining, and after the teams traded behinds on two occasions,

Melksham stepped up to deliver the decisive blow and improve Essendon’s record to 8-3 for the season.

With just their second loss in their last eight games, the crestfallen Blues drop to 6-5.

ESSENDON       2.1    3.4    6.7    11.11 (77)
CARLTON          1.4    6.5    8.9    10.12 (72)

GOALS
Essendon: Melksham 3, Hocking, Hurley, Stanton, Crameri, Kommer, Howlett, Carlisle, Myers
Carlton: Waite 7, Murphy, Betts, Casboult

BEST
Essendon: Carlisle, Hocking, Heppell, Goddard, Fletcher, Melksham
Carlton: Waite, Henderson, Casboult, Murphy, Walker, Gibbs

INJURIES
Essendon: Nil
Carlton: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Essendon: Alwyn Davey replaced by Will Hams at three-quarter time
Carlton: Mitch Robinson replaced by Chris Yarran at three-quarter time
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Rosebury, Meredith, Jeffery
Official crowd: 82,639 at the MCG