Sydney have completed an astonishing one-point AFL victory over Essendon at the SCG, sneaking home via a Gary Rohan conversion from the goal square after the final siren.
The Bombers looked set to complete an epic come-from-behind win on Friday night, piling on seven consecutive goals to hit the front with 10 minutes remaining.
The visitors pushed it out to a 19-point lead but the Swans rallied in remarkable fashion. Lance Franklin missed two shots in the ensuing chaos, but his side still managed to kick two goals in the final 80 seconds.
The margin was cut to five points when Franklin marked outside the 50m arc, wheeled around and kicked his sixth behind of the night.
Soon after, the Sherrin landed in the lap of Rohan, who had cost Sydney two goals during the Bombers’ preceding blitz, and the flame-haired speedster did not disappoint.
The Swans won 11.20 (86) to 12.13 (85), surging into the AFL’s top eight for the first time this season.
Both sides were guilty of crippling turnovers and inaccurate goalkicking, especially in the opening half.
Swans skipper Josh Kennedy, as has been the case throughout his side’s revival, was inspirational in the engine room and likely to earn the three Brownlow votes.
The Bombers landed in NSW with two worrying records hanging over their heads.
The Swans had won the past six meetings between the clubs, while Franklin had averaged a bag of five goals in his 13 clashes with Essendon.
They successfully shot down one of the hoodoos. Franklin was held goalless by the Bombers for the first time in his 260-game career.
It wasn’t entirely the visitors’ doing. Franklin had the yips, as did fellow key forward Sam Reid, in what was far from Sydney’s most-polished performance of the year.
The Swans, however, move to a position where finals are somehow on the cards.
It is some achievement, given they opened 2017 with six straight losses. No club has rallied from a 0-5 start and reached finals, let alone 0-6.
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.
Round 5 of the AFL provided plenty of action, from big scorelines to upset wins and pressure starting to build on some clubs and coaches already.
It's the seven-minute mark of the final quarter. Essendon lead the Western Bulldogs by 19 points in a match that has, since halfway through…
The AFL Players' Association has come out swinging against the league for their decision to hand Port Adelaide forward a three-match suspension for using…
Geelong has been crafty and creative in its list management and has quietly assembled a very exciting young group of midfielders and half-forwards.
Brisbane co-captain Lachie Neale will be looking to lead his team to a victory against Melbourne in what will be his 250th AFL game.
For all the talk and all the acclaim the so-called 'Essendon Edge' has received in the past few weeks - and I firmly fit…
