Essendon have edged out a gallant Adelaide 97-87 at Marvel Stadium to break the hoodoo and claim their first win of season 2022.
Nine goals in the first term and eight in the second saw fast flowing and entertaining footy under the roof at Marvel Stadium.
The topsy-turvy affair was one both sides would have been confident they could walk away with a win, as the Bombers had faced three of the top four teams from last season in the lead-up, and the Crows defeated Port Adelaide in the showdown last week.
However, whenever one side threatened to kick away, the other would rally and get back within striking distance.
Unfortunately for Essendon, Will Snelling was removed from the game at half-time and was replaced by Devon Smith.
The 24-year-old, who came third in Essendon’s best and fairest last year, missed the first three rounds because of a calf strain and was returning for his first game of the year, but he only managed one half before the calf injury seemingly re-surfaced.
Adelaide young-gun Josh Rachele was again impressive and was part of a potent forward line that welcomed back Taylor Walker and looked threatening.
Taylor Walker copped a hostile reception from Bombers fans after he was embroiled in a racism scandal last season, though it seemed to only spur him on as he booted four goals and had 18 disposals with his six marks.
An exhilarating last quarter saw players out on their legs and was symbolic of the way the game had been played.
It was ruckman Sam Draper, though, that dealt the decisive blow and snapped through a goal with three minutes to go to put the Bombers out to a 10-point lead that eventuated to be too much for the Crows to overcome, despite a late goal from Lachlan Gollant.
The win puts both teams on level pegging but speaking on AFL Nation, former Port Adelaide star Kane Cornes believes it held more weight for the Bombers.
“Both teams are 1-3, they both feel better than that,” he said.
“The Bombers' season is alive.
“I think for Essendon and for the competition, I’m glad they got the result today because it almost would’ve been season over.
“They just had to win and they were good enough to hold on late.”
The Bombers will be hoping to take some momentum and string together two wins when they face Fremantle at Marvel next round, while Adelaide returns to South Australia and host a resurgent Richmond.
FULL SCORE
Essendon: 5.3, 9.6, 12.11, 15.13 (103)
Adelaide: 4.2, 8.4, 12.6, 15.9 (99)
GOALS
Essendon: Wright 3, Waterman 2, Perkins 2, Caldwell, Durham, Martin, Redman, Phillips, Guelfi, Smith, Draper
Adelaide: Walker 4, Rachele 3, Rowe 2, Himmelberg 2, Keays, Sholl, McHenry, Gollant
BEST
Essendon: D Parish, P Wright, A McGrath, J Caldwell, N Hind, D Heppell
Adelaide: T Walker, R Laird, J Rachele, B Keays,
INJURIES
Essendon: Will Snelling (calf)
Adelaide: n/a