When the Hawks needed leaders, Shaun Burgoyne and Cyril Rioli – who kicked the winning goal – came to the fore. Burgoyne was exceptional in the last quarter, winning critical contests time after time. It was essential he did because losing a quality player such as Sam Mitchell pre-game was always going to hurt the Hawks. The midfield champion has earned seven Brownlow votes in the past three games against the Bombers. His loss hurt even more when the skipper Luke Hodge was forced from the ground in the third quarter with a groin injury. From that moment the Hawks looked rudderless and the Bombers kicked six unanswered goals in the third term to take the lead. But Burgoyne, Rioli and Jordan Lewis late in the game won critical stoppages and showed what great players do under pressure.
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2. What changed at half-time to bring Essendon back?
Essendon began to play on at every opportunity and its midfielders won the ball, turning a 32-point half-time deficit into a three-point lead at the last change. Brendon Goddard and Jobe Watson are great leaders but everyone pitched in to put pressure on Hawthorn and make it hard for the premier to use the ball as cleanly as it did in the first half. In the third quarter, Essendon had 10 more tackles than Hawthorn and 30 more disposals in that quarter. It also found crumbers at ground level and put pressure on in the forward half. Rookie Patrick Ambrose managed two goals in the third quarter to bring the Bombers back into the game. He then kicked a brilliant goal in the last quarter when the game was tight to keep Hawthorn at bay momentarily. But it was not enough and Hawthorn hit back with late goals to crumbers Luke Breust and Rioli.
3. The Chapman curse finally ended
Former Geelong player Paul Chapman had not been part of a losing team against Hawthorn since the Cats lost the 2008 Grand Final to the Hawks. Folklore suggests he once declared he would never lose to the Hawks again after that shock result. Having missed the 2013 preliminary final, when the Hawks' 'Kennett curse' against the Cats was broken, he entered his second game with Essendon on a 10-game winning streak against the Hawks. That streak had occurred entirely at the MCG, while his record against Hawthorn at Etihad was four wins from seven. In the third quarter, Chapman looked to have cast his spell again as Essendon reeled off six unanswered goals Then as Hawthorn challenged he snapped a major to extend the Bombers' lead beyond a goal. But it was not to be. The Hawks kicked the final two goals of the game to snatch a remarkable win. It was the first time Chapman had heard the Hawthorn theme song played post-match since the 2008 decider.
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4. Good ball users off half-back are essential
If Matt Suckling was a golfer he would be lauded for his short game, such is his touch and accuracy. Although he has an unusual style for a left-footer, bringing his leg around in a wide arc, he weights the ball as well as many of the great left-footers who have played the game. He kicked two goals in the first half and put pressure on his opponent by running hard off half-back to create an option for teammates with the ball. However when the game turned in the third quarter it was Michael Hibberd and Dyson Heppell who started to generate scoring chains from defence and attack through the middle. The contrasting games showed how important that running, distributing half-back role has become.
5. Cheney entered the land of the giants and prevailed - for a half
It was an unfair match-up with Hawthorn defender Kyle Cheney, who is 187cm tall, asked to take on 198cm Essendon forward Jake Carlisle. However Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson laughed off the potential problem pre-game, saying Hawthorn was used to being undersized in defence and would take their chances. Cheney, who has played just 33 games but has been a great back-up plan since joining the Hawks, received great support from Luke Hodge and Josh Gibson as he took on Carlisle in the first half. He only conceded one goal in that half – to an unlucky free kick – and played above his weight.
