Brave Bombers jag AFL upset over Hawthorn

Peter Wright has kicked six goals to help Essendon pull off a dramatic 27-point win over Hawthorn against the odds, breathing life back into their AFL season.

Ravaged by illness and forced into five late changes, the Bombers produced an eight-goal final term to run away with a 16.12 (108) to 11.15 (81) win on Saturday night at Marvel Stadium.

Jordan Ridley, Matt Guelfi, Jake Kelly, Sam Durham and Alec Waterman were all picked in the starting 22 but were too unwell to play.

And the magnitude of Essendon’s desperation was highlighted when they called on Devon Smith as a replacement just days after ruling him out for two weeks because of a knee injury.

Peter Wright celebrates a goal for the Bombers. Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

The Bombers trailed by as much as 25 points during the third quarter but fought back and finished full of running to claim their second win of the year after a tough 1-6 start.

Nic Martin provided a spark in the final term as he kicked one goal and set up another for Wright to get Essendon back within a kick.

Dylan Shiel missed a gilt-edged chance to put them in front and Mason Redman thought he had done so from long range until Wright was called for holding an opponent on the goal line.

The Bombers eventually took the lead when Zach Merrett accidentally kicked the ball through for a goal when trying to pick it up off the ground.

Wright then galloped forward after winning a contest on the wing and bounced through his fifth major to whip the red-and-black crowd into a frenzy.

Heavily criticised for not having enough impact with their possessions, Merrett (28 disposals and six clearances) and Darcy Parish (32 and six) were outstanding for the Bombers.

Redman (27 disposals) starred at half-back and Sam Draper fought back from a tough start to split his ruck duel with Max Lynch.

Jai Newcombe (28 disposals and five clearances) was brilliant in the first half for Hawthorn as Max Lynch, Jacob Koschitzke and Jack Gunston kicked two goals each to help establish what looked to be a match-winning lead midway through the third quarter.

But the Bombers were irresistible in the final term, piling on 8.2 to 1.2 to overrun their rivals.