Essendon registered just their third win of 2022 on Friday night, defeating St Kilda by 35 points at Marvel Stadium.
The Bombers started brightly to take a 28-point lead into half-time only to see their advantage whittled away in the third quarter.
After the Saints kicked five consecutive goals, Essendon responded well to kick away to an unassailable 37-point lead at the final change.
Ben Rutten’s side recorded more contested possessions (+23), uncontested possessions (+53), inside 50s (+15), tackles (+13) and one percenters (+19).
The victory snapped a four-game losing streak and put a dent in St Kilda’s finals hopes.
Speaking on SEN Breakfast, Nathan Buckley and Garry Lyon unpacked Essendon’s upset win over the Saints.
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Buckley: “Essendon – where did that come from? Why?”
Lyon: “They were just hard to play against … and then they got the ball moving.
“When you get those two things going, you’re going to be a really good chance.
“What an interesting game that was.
“They led by 28 points at half-time, they (St Kilda) kicked five goals in the first 10 minutes of the third quarter and in my mind I have no doubt they went, ‘See, I told you we could beat Essendon’. They had a pressure rating of 235 when they kicked those first five goals.
“This is the way I read it, I might be wrong, they had some home truths read to them about the way they were playing and their lack of hardness at the footy.
“They came out and did all the things that have St Kilda supporters excited about the year, they kicked five goals on the bounce, their pressure was through the roof, they asked the question of Essendon … and then their pressure rating dropped to about 160.”
Buckley: “Mason Redman is a young fella that I just love his heart on sleeve competitiveness.
“It was great to see him perform really well in a win.
“I think their younger guys really stood out for me.
“Obviously (Nick) Hind … (Harrison) Jones has played a few games back now and he looks like he’s going to be a player. (Sam) Durham runs up and down on the wing for them. (Massimo) D’Ambrosio who came in for his first game. (Ben) Hobbs.
“You need to trust your list and you need to trust your youth. It was a great sign.”
The Bombers (3-10) travel to Perth to play West Coast (1-12) at Optus Stadium on Friday night.