HAWTHORN has staged a remarkable second-half comeback to upstage old rivals Essendon in a thrilling one-point win at Marvel Stadium.
Both sides had quarters in which they kicked eight goals to one on Saturday night as the game took major momentum swings.
The Bombers broke the game open in the second term and led by 40 points before the Hawks hit back in the third.
They traded blows again in the final quarter before Tim O’Brien marked deep in attack and kicked the match-winning goal with 90 seconds left on the clock.
Dylan Moore kicked three goals and debutant Connor Downie two in the Hawks’ 14.8 (92) to 13.13 (91) win.
Tom Mitchell (39 disposals) and Jaeger O’Meara (30 and nine clearances) were huge contributors in Hawthorn’s comeback.
Andrew McGrath (33 disposals) and Zach Merrett (31) were huge for Essendon but were outplayed after the main break.
Ben Rutten took the reins at Essendon for the first time after completing the drawn-out coaching handover from John Worsfold at the end of last year.
Hawthorn kicked the first goal through Jonathon Ceglar in the opening minute of a tight first term.
The second was one-way traffic as the Hawks went to sleep and Essendon put on a clinic.
Their speed across the ground and slick ball movement were too hot for Hawthorn to handle.
McGrath’s snap shot gave them the lead and began a run of seven straight goals as the margin blew out to 40 points before halftime.
But Hawthorn flipped the script in the third term and piled on seven consecutive goals – three of them to Moore – to cut the margin back to a solitary point.
The Hawks’ efficiency was key as 15 inside-50s resulted in eight goals for the term.
Both sides wasted chances early in the final term before ruckmen Ben McEvoy and Sam Draper took towering marks to kick goals for their respective sides, leaving scores level with five minutes to play.
Devon Smith put Essendon in front with a classy finish before O’Brien settled the contest with a strong mark and easy goal.
O’Brien and Harry Morrison kicked two goals each for the Hawks.
(C) AAP 2021
HAWTHORN 3.1 4.3 12.3 14.8 (92)
ESSENDON 2.4 10.6 11.10 13.13 (91)
Goals: Hawthorn: D Moore 3 H Morrison 2 T Brockman 2 T O’Brien 2 B McEvoy J Ceglar L Breust O Hanrahan T Phillips. Essendon: A McDonald-Tipungwuti 2 D Shiel 2 D Smith 2 A McGrath C Hooker D Parish P Wright S Draper W Snelling Z Merrett.
Umpires: Robert Findlay, Robert O’Gorman, Nathan Williamson.
Venue: Marvel Stadium.
