ESSENDON has broken through for its first win of the season with a 45-point victory over Melbourne at the Adelaide Oval.
Essendon’s Gather Round dominance over the Demons continued on Saturday, with the Bombers kicking six goals to one in the third quarter to set up a drought breaking win and stop them from setting a new club record for consecutive defeats.
The last time Essendon tasted victory was in Dreamtime at the 'G last year in May, but its 17.11 (113) to 10.8 (68) thumping of the Demons saw them clinch a spirit-lifting win just as the Bombers were about to claim an unwanted piece of club history.
Melbourne is now 0-3 in Gather Round contests against the Bombers and will rue a missed opportunity to start the season at 4-1. In Jake Melksham's 250th game, the Demons' creativity and dare, which had been so pronounced in the first month under new coach Steven King, was nowhere to be seen as the Bombers locked in.
The signs were there early on. Essendon won its first opening term to lead by four points at quarter time as the Bombers got the better of a turnover-laden start.
Both teams were beneficiaries and to blame for the skill errors that led to early goals, with the Bombers producing one of the best quarters of their 2026 campaign as they managed to quell the Demons' ball movement.
That got going in the second term courtesy of Kysaiah Pickett, whose efforts defensively and in his forward half got them moving, including a chasedown tackle of Kako at one end and then a mark and goal at the other.
When Brody Mihocek kicked a goal to put the Dees 19 points up, they had booted five of the previous six goals to take control of the contest.
That was before Durham kicked the goal of the day, a dancing display that confounded Melbourne opponents before he snapped through the kick, and then Kako took his chance close to goal to peg the deficit back to six points at the main break.
Those two late majors gave Essendon momentum into the third quarter, with goals to Archer Day-Wicks, a long bomb from Roberts and then a cool shot by Nate Caddy seeing the Bombers break open an 11-point lead.
Essendon had momentum and could sense an opening as its midfield took control and its defence continued to stand up under pressure.
A snap from Kozzy Pickett – who else? – snapped the drought but the Bombers responded with the next three goals to establish a 22-point lead at three-quarter time and their first win of so long within reach.
There was an eight-minute goalless stretch to start the final term as Melbourne hung on before a moment of magic from Zach Merrett in the pocket sealed the win – one that had been a long time coming.
ESSENDON 3.5 6.8 12.9 17.11 (113)
MELBOURNE 3.1 8.2 9.5 10.8 (68)
GOALS
Essendon: Caddy 2, Duursma 2, Edwards 2, Kako 2, May 2, Day-Wicks, Durham, Gresham, Merrett, Roberts, Tsatas, Wright
Melbourne: K.Pickett 2, Chandler, Fritsch, Gawn, Mihocek, L.Pickett, Sharp, Sparrow, Langford
BEST
Essendon: Roberts, Parish, Kako, Merrett, Langford, Farrow
Melbourne: K.Pickett, Steele, Gawn, Langford
INJURIES
Essendon: Nil
Melbourne: Salem (ankle)
Crowd: 38,006 at Adelaide Oval
