After a scratchy start under Kevin Sheedy, Essendon had built a full head of steam with 13 straight wins when they took on flag favourite Carlton at Princes Park. The Bombers struggled, and by the 20 minute mark of the final term were 26 points down after a long goal from Carlton's Jim Buckley. But as they had in many of those previous victories, Essendon kept coming. Roger Merrett then Paul Vander Haar goaled. Now came controversy, as Carlton captain Mike Fitzpatrick, trying to run down the clock, was free kicked for wasting time. Enter Neale Daniher, switched at three-quarter-time from defence to attack. At the 30-minute mark, he marked between two defenders and converted. From the next centre clearance, Glenn Hawker threw the ball on his boot, his tumbling punt landing smack on Daniher's chest. From 30 metres, Daniher did it again, Essendon, incredibly, now in front with only seconds remaining. And there they stayed.

FILE PIC Age library hard copy . dated 16.8.1981. Essendon's Neale Daniher, right, after booting the late match-saving goal at Princes Park, looks up to see brother Terry Daniher (NO. 5) waving his congratulations. Credit:Fairfax Media



Essendon v Melbourne (Round 6, 1992, MCG)

Melbourne led by 40-odd points for most of this game, and 47 a couple of minutes into the last term after a goal to Chris Sullivan, Garry Lyon on fire up forward with five goals. The Bombers' amazing response came seemingly from nowhere, seven goals slammed on in the next 12 minutes, six of those shared by Paul Salmon and Peter Somerville. After 11 goalless minutes, Gavin Wanganeen nailed Paul Bryce in a tackle and a won a free for the holding the ball. From 52 metres, his shot dropped over the goal line, and the Dons, incredibly, were one point in front. As the Demons attacked again in desperation, Bomber Derek Kickett took a match-saving mark running with the flight and slamming into a goalpost, and in the final seconds, David Flood, too, saved the day. The siren rang, Essendon having produced the equal third-biggest comeback from a three-quarter time deficit in the game's history.