Four critical moments underlined Essendon’s courageous drought-breaking win over the Giants on Sunday night.
After 14 months without a win in Melbourne, the Bombers held their nerve against a surging GWS favourite to emerge three-point victors at Marvel Stadium.
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“Full credit to the kids … just some of the names we’ve been waiting to see little snippets of taking their moments.
“Guys like (Dyson) Sharp and (Jacob) Farrow – we’ve talked enough about (Sully) Robey, (Archie) Roberts and (Isaac) Kako.”
The first moment King sought to highlight was Archer Day-Wicks’ gutsy mark on the wing at the 20-minute mark that led to a forward-50 opportunity.
Then, it was Huss El Achkar hunting down two Giants to win a free kick, with Robey taking the advantage to snap a go-ahead goal.
“Day-Wicks – that there to me was the moment (where you thought) you know what, they’re going to win this. That sort of courage, little efforts like that,” King said.
“And then the fight here just to get a neutral ball … I just thought these kids had really significant moments.”
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Later, as the Bombers were protecting their lead and the Giants went forward, Sharp desperately nailed Lachie Ash in a tackle to win back possession.
“They’re out and gone – it doesn’t look like a lot, but Sharp defeats Fonti, and then he goes again to just do enough to force the turnover,” King said.
That subsequent passage saw a drilling Roberts kick land in the mitts of Kyle Langford, who wisely took his 30 seconds in front of goal before passing it to drain crucial time off the clock.
“This is where you need your leaders to have the wherewithal to manage the game,” King said.
“I thought that was probably Langford’s best moment in two years of footy.
“But really, it all came together at the right time for the kids, with an act or two of leadership.”
The dual premiership player also had plaudits for under-fire veteran Zach Merrett, who’s set to seek a trade out of the club at season’s end.
“I reckon Zach Merrett has been bashed from pillar to post in the last two months of footy. (He had) 35 touches,” said King.
“But there was a moment in the third quarter where he had to stay and lay a big tackle, and they were barnstorming at that stage, the Giants.
“He stuck the tackle and sent them back the other way.
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“(It was) just a game full of little moments that I think they’ll get a lot of growth from. And nothing beats winning.
“It’s hard to keep fronting up on a Monday when you’ve been whacked, really, by the whole football world – not just on gameday, but every media hour afterwards.”
Western Bulldogs games record-holder Brad Johnson also directed praise in the way of the fans who showed up at Docklands on Sunday.
“And you could nearly put the fans as a tick as well,” he said.
“Seeing Day-Wicks have that shot (on the siren), you just watch the fans behind him. They were just absolutely pumped.
“There would have been thousands watching at home, of course, but ultimately, the ones that were there to witness it – they just go home with the biggest bloody grin on their face, which is awesome for them.”
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King added: “I reckon there’d be some disappointed fans (that) they didn’t go.
“They looked light on for numbers, and this is where you absolutely need their support.
“I understand they put their money in – they can go or not – but gee, it would have been a great day to be there if you’re a Bombers supporter.”
Essendon caretaker coach Dean Solomon described his team’s stunning upset win as “a bloody good feeling”.
The three-point thriller served as just the Bombers’ second win from 31 attempts and snapped their 12-game losing streak while also lifting them off the bottom of the ladder.
“Our footy club’s been on its knees for a period of time and the footy world’s jumped on that,” Solomon said.
“They enjoy us sitting at the bottom and we’ve felt that and we don’t like that and so to push back a little bit and get one win … I’m just really happy for these players.”
— with NewsWire