ESSENDON has delivered the upset of the season to stun the inconsistent GIANTS in a three-point thriller amid scenes of delirium at Marvel Stadium.
Having won just one of their previous 30 games, the Bombers finally played with a sense of urgency to give Dean Solomon his first win in his 10th match as a caretaker coach, which includes three at Gold Coast in 2017.
Leading at every break, Essendon gave up its advantage twice in a frantic final term but hit back through clutch goals to Sullivan Robey and Peter Wright.
With a wildcard spot still up for grabs, the GIANTS desperately tried to reclaim the lead in the dying stages, but Essendon hung on to win 10.7 (67) to 8.16 (64).
It was Essendon's first win since beating Melbourne in Gather Round in Adelaide on April 11, while it hadn't won a game in Victoria since May 23, 2025.
The Bombers, who were ravaged by Brisbane last Sunday and had lost 12 straight matches, were given virtually no hope of matching it with the red-hot GIANTS.
But it does continue the GIANTS' baffling trend of struggling against lower-ranked opposition, but managing to dismantle last year’s grand finalists Brisbane and Geelong, as well as rampaging ladder leader Fremantle, amid its previous seven games.
As well as the Bombers, the GIANTS have dropped matches to St Kilda (twice) and West Coast.
In a further concern for the GIANTS, they lost captain Toby Greene to a quad injury during the third quarter.
The GIANTS were demolished in the clearances 45-28, as Essendon aces Zach Merrett (35 touches, one goal) and Sam Durham (25 disposals) impressed.
The only concern for Essendon was young star Nate Caddy, who was sent to hospital due to an elevated heart rate.
Caddy, who recently re-signed until the end of 2031 in a massive boost for the battling Bombers, didn't return to the ground after quarter-time.
The result could prove costly for the GIANTS, which would have jumped into 10th and a wildcard spot, had it beaten the Bombers.
It also lifted Essendon to 17th, sending Richmond to the bottom of the ladder.
ESSENDON 2.4 3.6 7.6 10.7 (67)
GIANTS 2.3 2.9 5.12 8.16 (64)
GOALS
Essendon: Farrow 2, Bryan 2, Wright, Sharp, Robey, Redman, Merrett, El Achkar
GIANTS: Greene 2, Rowston, Ough, Gruzewski, Coniglio, Brown, Angwin
