For Collingwood and Essendon fans alike, few images loom as large as a young David Zaharakis celebrating a match-winning goal in the pouring rain at the MCG in 2009.
For Essendon supporters: elation, claiming their first ANZAC Day victory since 2005. For Collingwood fans: despair, in a game that seemed a certain win just minutes prior. Whichever side of the ground you cheer from – this was a win for the ages.2009: Essendon 13.15 (93) defeated Collingwood 12.16 (88)
“It’s over, the Bombers have won it.“They have snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.”
And as the great caller, Tim Lane, said in Channel 10's commentary of the match, snatched victory they did.
The stage was set. After a deadlocked half-time score of 42-all, the Bombers would enter the final quarter on top.
However with less than five minutes to play, Essendon trailed 74 – 88 and a fourth Collingwood win in a row looked certain.
A smothering Essendon defence saw Collingwood fail to score for the remainder of the match, whilst accurate kicking saw the Bombers score three unanswered goals to claim a victory that is still talked about over 10 years later.
“A lot of Essendon supporters talk about Grand Finals and Preliminary Finals, but this is the next match they bring up,” Essendon legend Dustin Fletcher said.
Becoming an Essendon hero overnight, David Zaharakis in just his fourth game of AFL football sealed the victory for the comeback kings, by kicking his first AFL goal.
“To come back and win the game was pretty special,” Essendon legend Dustin Fletcher recalled.
“I remember running down to join in the celebration with them [after Zaharakis’ goal] and stopping halfway to get back to the backline and call a few players back.
“I didn’t want to overreact and celebrate the win when there was still a bit of time left in the game.”
An epic comeback from the Bombers, but not the only time they have come back from a deficit to make it to the cusp of victory. Similar resurgences in 2012 and 2019 also saw Essendon come from more than 10 points down at three-quarter time to get within a kick of the win.
“You find there’s a lot of comebacks during these types of games, and maybe it’s because of the importance of the day,” Fletcher said.
“Players want to step up and perform and give absolutely everything.”
