Jake Stringer bags three as Bombers stun Eagles in Perth

Jake Stringer produced a heroic second-half display as Essendon came from 29 points down to post a gutsy 16-point win over an injury-hit West Coast at Optus Stadium.

The Eagles looked set for victory after booting five unanswered goals during a 15-minute blitz in the second term of Saturday night’s match.

Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti of the Bombers celebrates a goal against the Eagles. Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Stringer, in his first match back from a hamstring injury, went to half-time 0.2 with seven disposals to his name.

But he exploded in the second half with three clutch goals — including two in the final term — to lift Essendon to a 12.15 (87) to 11.5 (71) win in front of 41,883 fans.

The result improved Essendon’s record to 5-6 while West Coast’s top-four hopes are looking slim after slipping to 6-5.

Injuries came back to bite West Coast.

Star midfielder Tim Kelly damaged his right knee in the opening seconds of the second term and was subbed out, while Oscar Allen didn’t appear in the second half after landing on his head and neck in a marking contest.

Dom Sheed stepped up in the absence of Kelly to tally 43 disposals, six clearances and a goal, while ruckman Nic Naitanui (20 disposals, 40 hitouts, seven clearances) was influential in the slippery conditions.

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Returning West Coast midfielder Elliot Yeo, playing his first AFL match in nine months, tallied 14 disposals and five clearances off limited game time.

Bombers midfielder Darcy Parish was huge with 36 possessions and 11 clearances, while Zach Merrett (37 touches) also helped Essendon turn the tide in the midfield despite Naitanui’s ruck dominance.

Back-up West Coast ruckman Bailey Williams could be suspended over a no-look elbow that left defender Jayden Laverde with a bloodied nose.

Kelly injured his right knee when he did the splits while being tackled in the opening moments of the second term.

When West Coast finally decided to sub him out of the match at the 10-minute mark, his replacement Jake Waterman stormed onto the field and kicked a goal straight away.

Waterman’s floating goal sparked a run of five straight majors as the lead ballooned to 29 points, but late goals to Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and Kyle Langford reduced the margin to 17 points at the break.

Waterman conceded two free kicks that led to goals in the third quarter, but the big moment came late in the term when Stringer nailed a 50m goal from the boundary.

Stringer’s opening goal of the final term gave the Bombers the lead in driving rain and his third goal with seven minutes remaining delivered Essendon a nine-point buffer.

The Bombers dominated the inside 50s 22-6 in the final term with forward Alec Waterman kicking the sealer.