Essendon’s long, agonising 323-day wait is over.

The Bombers have produced a stunning late charge to blow away Melbourne and snap Essendon’s equal club record 17-game losing streak.

Brad Scott’s kicked five goals in a fourth quarter avalanche — including an epic snap from Zach Merrett — to put the scoreboard out of reach in the 45-point belting, 17.11 (113) to 10.8 (68), at Adelaide Oval.

WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.

Watch every match of every round of the AFL Premiership Season LIVE and ad-break free during play on FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.

The Bombers finally got their first win on the board in 2026 after intense scrutiny has come on the club and Scott this season.

“Enjoy this, if you’re an Essendon fan,” Melbourne great Garry Lyon said on Fox Footy post-match.

“No one takes any joy out of a team when you lose 17 in a row. Footy can be pretty tough and you can go to some pretty dark places when you go on a losing streak like that.

“But today makes it all worthwhile. They have comprehensively belted Melbourne off the park.”

Scott speaks on snapping losing-streak | 10:26

Archie Roberts led the way with a career-high 40 disposals, 14 marks and a goal off half-back as the Bombers’ high-possession brand completely nullified Melbourne.

Meanwhile Merrett registered 31 touches — and that brilliant goal — and Essendon’s raft of youngsters shone across the board including second-gamer Jacob Farrow (22 disposals, 12 marks).

Essendon goalkickers: Kako, Edwards, May, Duursma, Wright 2, Tsatas, Durham, Day-Wicks, Roberts, Caddy, Gresham, Merrett

Melbourne goalkickers: K.Pickett 2, Fritsch, L.Pickett, Sharp, Gawn, Sparrow, Chandler, Mihocek, Langford

The 3-2-1… (via Will Faulkner from Adelaide Oval)

Dons break 17-game losing streak! | 02:56

3. ‘BEST I’VE SEEN’: DONS’ SECOND-HALF AVALANCHE ENDS 17-GAME LOSING STREAK WITH GRACE

Essendon’s youth has been a perennial talking point across the last half a decade, but Saturday afternoon’s slog against Melbourne was certainly the cohort’s best outing of 2026.

Trailing by just one goal at the main break — and having registered four more scoring shots — Brad Scott’s side had every right to feel like they should’ve been leading.

“The younger players here are having a say in proceedings,” Melbourne great Garry Lyon said at the start of the second quarter, before expanding on the cusp of half time.

“Bombers fans, you’ll be getting a little bit excited. Tsatas has had a half, Kako’s starting to play some of his best footy for the year. Farrow and Robey have debuted and look like they’re ready.”

“Some good signs for the Bombers … he’s had a big say, Kako.”

Off half-back, the 20-year-old Roberts accrued 16 disposals and six intercepts to provide plenty of bounce, while Kako had an impressive 12 touches to go alongside his one goal.

Elijah Tsatas had 15 touches and a goal of his own at the main break in his first senior match since Round 18 last year, while second-gamer Jacob Farrow was entrusted with plenty of responsibility with ball-in-hand.

Down back in the form of a more senior figure, key defender Ben McKay and utility Kyle Langford were as solid as a rock, with the exception of one crude turnover from the former in the opening term.

“I’m really pleased with how Essendon are playing. It’s been a while since we said they’ve been as effective as this. Twelve intercept marks in the first quarter is the most in any quarter under Brad Scott at Essendon — that’s a huge number,” David King said at half time.

“If they can play like this with this sort of defensive positioning and aggression, they’ll be in the game deep.”

“It’s the best quarter defensively that I’ve seen from Essendon for a long time. It doesn’t necessarily guarantee them a win today, but it keeps them in the game.

“43 intercepts for a half of football is terrific … It’s been a long time since we talked about Essendon without the footy. Ben McKay has led the way, and Roberts has been really good in that facet.”

Western Bulldogs great Brad Johnson added on the cusp of the final siren: “That’s another move Langford back that’s really worked. We know how important he was as a forward who led their goalkicking, and kicked multiple goals each week. But, he’s really steady in the back half of the ground.”

From there, it was a 6.1 third term in front of goal that skyrocketed the Bombers into the box seat for their first win in 18 AFL matches — narrowly avoiding an outright all-time record for the most consecutive losses at the club.

Roberts was again among the best in the third term, racking up 14 more disposals in the premiership quarter.

Pickett praised for epic first half | 01:37

2. ‘TOP THREE’: DEES’ SAME OLD ‘AMAZING’ SPARK GETS HOT DESPITE CLOSE ATTENTION

Kysaiah Pickett’s 28-disposal, eight-tackle, two-goal game unfortunately still wasn’t enough to will the Demons over the line in Adelaide, but the South and Western Australian product still reminded the competition why he’s right now a “top two to three” player in the game.

The 24-year-old was paid close attention by Essendon captain Andrew McGrath throughout the match, but still managed to find plenty of the footy to help spur Melbourne on.

“We’ve seen players get tagged out of games at the start of this season … but when you’re getting tagged like a player like Andrew McGrath, you can turn up and do things (defensively),” three-time Richmond premiership player Jack Riewoldt told Fox Footy at half time on Super Saturday Live.

Two-time premiership Roo David King added: “He’s an amazing player, Kozzy. I think he’s fast becoming one of the most watchable players in the competition right now. He may even be in the top 2-3 right now as we speak.

Well-known for his burst and offensive running patterns, Pickett’s defensive efforts were also on display in front of a loud, 38,006-person Adelaide Oval crowd.

Kysaiah Pickett of the Demons is congratulated by Latrelle Pickett after kicking a goal during the Round 5 AFL match between Essendon Bombers and Melbourne Demons at Adelaide Oval, on April 11, 2026, in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)Source: FOX SPORTS

An epic mow-down tackle on Isaac Kako running towards 50 in the second stanza was unlucky to not be given holding-the-ball, before running on fumes to get on the end of a match inside forward 50 nearly 100 metres up the field.

“One of the things for Kozzy that he needs to work on, is that he doesn’t run defensively. But to see that and the determination to get back and save his team (is excellent),” small forward legend Eddie Betts said in the Melbourne changerooms at half time on Super Saturday Live.

David King added: “It hasn’t been a once-off this year; we’ve seen him do this countless times, and he’s really embraced the role.”

Pickett’s two-way running allowed the Demons to get the ball from end-to-end in the second term in the same manner they’ve done successfully to start season 2026.

“In the first quarter, they couldn’t transition from their back half. This (second) quarter, 12 times they’ve left it and four times they’ve been able to go the full length of the ground,” Garry Lyon said.

In a sour blow for the Demons, defender Christian Salem was ruled out of the final quarter with an ankle injury.

King rips ‘lethargic’ Dees after defeat | 06:51

1. LOCAL WEATHER CAUSES EARLY ‘TURNOVER FEST’ FOR BOTH SIDES

For the third straight match at Adelaide Oval this Gather Round, a sharp burst of heavy rain impacted the skill levels of both sides early.

During the first 35 minutes in particular, it was Melbourne who were particularly rueing their execution in slippery conditions.

For context, the league’s average number of clanger kicks across a full match is 22, with the Demons already up to 15 just four minutes into the second quarter.

By extension in the same time period, the Demons had just one mark inside 50 from 15 entries.

Crucial mistakes went both ways though, with Bombers key defender Ben McKay — who had an excellent first half — making an unfortunate turnover trying to switch through the middle of the ground.

“It’s a turnover fest at the moment. The McKay kick at the other end, ends up as a goal, and it was Koltyn Tholstrup then who was coming out of the back 50 and turned it straight over,” Garry Lyon said during the first term.

Re-live our coverage of Essendon vs Melbourne in our blog below! Can’t see the blog?Click here