A REVIVAL to match Richmond’s in 2014 culminated in a premiership for Kevin Sheedy’s “baby Bombers” in 1993.

After five rounds Essendon had just one win and a draw and sat 11th on the ladder.

But Essendon won six of its next seven games and finished the year on top, edging out bitter rival Carlton on percentage.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE EXCLUSIVE 1993 GRAND FINAL PHOTOS FROM THE HERALD SUN ARCHIVE

The Blues scored a two-point win against the Bombers in the qualifying final then accounted for Adelaide to progress to the Grand Final.

Essendon’s build-up was much more dramatic. The Bombers recovered from the Carlton defeat to down West Coast but their season looked over when they trailed the Crows by 42 points at halftime in the preliminary final.

media_camera Bomber Paul Salmon (front) outreaches future State Government minister Justin Madden (back).

Adelaide Grand Final T-shirts were being printed before the Bombers staged a remarkable Tim Watson-inspired revival to win by 11 points.

On the Monday night Gavin Wanganeen won the Brownlow Medal — denying Carlton champ Greg Williams by one vote in a decision that still riles Blues fans (Williams received zero votes for a 44-disposal game against Melbourne in Round 10).

media_camera Greg Williams kicks just before being tackled by Sean Denham.

Then Kevin Sheedy dropped a bombshell by leaving Derek Kickett out of the Grand Final team after he had played every game of the year.

Sheedy revealed in his autobiography the move was designed to keep Carlton coach David Parkin guessing.

media_camera Gary O'Donnell gets a kick away under pressure from Stephen Silvagni.

“All these years on and Derek Kickett still hasn’t forgiven me,” Sheedy wrote.

“I have offered my apologies many times, but the last time I raised that old, open sore he still ‘wasn’t ready to talk’.

“Derek was a bit unlucky, really. I wasn’t happy about his form at training and I didn’t think he had the endurance needed to put down the Blues, but that also was the last year of the two-man bench and there just wasn’t room in the squad.

media_camera Sean Denham hits the deck.

“The next year, maybe — but by then he had packed his bags and gone, recruited by the Swans after skipping the big celebration that night.’’

The Bombers came out firing on Grand Final day, with 13 scoring shots to three in the first quarter — including Michael Long’s iconic run that beat a diving Stephen Silvagni on the goal-line.

media_camera Michael Long and Gavin Wanganeen enjoy the win.

Long carved up tagger Mark Athorn to win the Norm Smith Medal. The Bombers were led superbly by captain Mark Thompson, Paul Salmon was a constant threat up forward and Williams and Sean Denham staged a running war.

Emerging star James Hird kicked two goals, including the sealer, and fellow youngsters Mark Mercuri, David Calthorpe and Ricky Olarenshaw had too much run for the Blues.

Carlton captain Stephen Kernahan saved the game from being a total blowout by booting seven goals — opposed to a skinny teenager named Dustin Fletcher.

media_camera James Hird flies for a mark.

ESSENDON 20.13 (133) d CARLTON 13.11 (89)

GOALS

Essendon: Salmon 5, Mercuri 3, Hird 2, Long 2, Harvey, Wanganeen, C.Daniher, Bewick, Wallis, Misiti, Denham, Calthorpe.

Carlton: Kernahan 7, Welsh 2, Williams, Heaver, Bradley, Alvin.

BEST

Essendon: Long, Mercuri, O’Donnell, Salmon, Thompson, Harvey.

Carlton: Kernahan, Hogg, Bradley, Williams, Madden, McKay.

Umpires: D.Goldsack, P.Carey

Crowd: 96,862

media_camera A dejected Justin Madden.

media_camera Tim Watson with the premiership cup.

media_camera Captain Mark Thompson and coach Kevin Sheedy hold up the cup.

media_camera Stephen Kernahan battles with Dustin Fletcher.

media_camera Joe Misiti leads Tom Alvin to the ball.

media_camera A perfect Grand Final day at the MCG.

media_camera Stephen Silvagni tackles Tim Watson.

media_camera Sean Denham handballs away from Stephen Kernahan.

media_camera Greg Williams goes down.

media_camera James Hird celebrates a late goal.