St Kilda has hauled themselves over the finish line in a thrilling two-point win over Essendon after surviving a huge Friday night scare.<\/p>\n
The baby Bombers led at the first and second interval, and were at one point in front at the 22nd minute of the final term, but ultimately lost to the Saints\u2019 11.11 (77) to their 11.9 (75).<\/p>\n
FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/p>\n Two goals in as many minutes saw Ross Lyon\u2019s side force a 12-point turnaround in the blink of an eye, and ultimately held on as Essendon squandered some half chances to regain the lead late.<\/p>\n \u201cWe certainly haven\u2019t made it easy the last four weeks; I think we\u2019ve done it in the last quarter every time,\u201d star St Kilda ruck Rowan Marshall told Fox Footy in the changerooms post-game.<\/p>\n \u201cPleasing to win, but a lot to work on.\u201d<\/p>\n Utility Cooper Sharman kicked his second consecutive three-goal haul against Essendon, and was aptly supported by All-Australian contender Jack Higgins who also bagged a trio of majors.<\/p>\n It left the Bombers without premiership points for an 11th straight match, which is now the outright fourth-worst in their history. Not since 2016 have they had a losing streak worse.<\/p>\n Conversely, the Saints have now won four on the trot and look likely to finish the season in 11th place on the ladder.<\/p>\n In a concerning sight inside the last 90 seconds of the match though, superstar Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera was involved in a head clash that saw him down grimacing inside St Kilda\u2019s forward 50.<\/p>\n And worryingly for the Bombers though amid their injury crisis, McMahon left the field of play halfway through the final quarter grimacing with a hand injury, and didn\u2019t return to the field.<\/p>\n Essendon goalkickers: McMahon 3, Perkins, Langford 2, Wright, Unwin, Lual, Menzie<\/p>\n St Kilda goalkickers: Higgins, Sharman 3, Wood 2, Marshall, Wilson, Wanganeen-Milera<\/p>\n THE 3-2-1…<\/p>\n 3. BABY BOMBERS FALL AT FINAL HURDLE… BUT YOUNG ROOKIES IMPRESS<\/p>\n Amid their ongoing 11-game losing streak, this is the closest Brad Scott\u2019s Bombers have been to taking home four premiership points.<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t to be, but for those Essendon fans who can still manage to maintain a glass-half-full outlook, there genuinely was a lot to like.<\/p>\n At the final siren, they claimed wins at both contested ball and for inside 50s with more of the Sherrin in their hands than St Kilda. <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019d be excused for thinking that there wasn\u2019t going to be energy here, but that\u2019s exactly what both teams bought,\u201d Collingwood legend Nathan Buckley told Fox Footy at half time.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Bombers in particular early, their forward half pressure was excellent.\u201d <\/p>\n Four-time Hawthorn premiership player Jordan Lewis added: \u201cI think he\u2019d (Brad Scott) be really happy with it, especially in the first quarter. It slacked off a bit in that second quarter, but it\u2019s the new guys like (Luamon) Lual and (Rhys) Unwin that we\u2019ve spoken about \u2026 this would be pleasing. Everything was on song.\u201d<\/p>\n Unwin, who became Essendon\u2019s 15th debutant for 2025 in an AFL record, kicked his first goal at the top level before quarter time and looked up for the challenge after 16 reserves games this season.<\/p>\n Similarly, 10-gamer Luamon Lual lit up Marvel Stadium in the first half \u2014 including a lively soccer off the ground that will catch the attention Goal of the Year judges.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is the opportunity that these players get. He may not have played if they had a full list available,\u201d Lewis said of Lual.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve got to take that (opportunity) with both hands. At one point, we mentioned that he had five disposals \u2014 it seemed like he\u2019d had a bigger impact on the game.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s provided a few highlights in the first half.\u201d <\/p>\n And before coming from the field with a hand injury, mid-season draftee Liam McMahon continued his strong run of form up forward to boot three goals off the back of a four-goal haul against Geelong last week. <\/p>\n \u201cHow good have their mid-season picks been!\u201d Lewis exclaimed during Fox Footy\u2019s coverage.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re out there, if you\u2019re willing to look and take a chance on these types of players.<\/p>\n 2. AFL\u2019S \u2018HUMAN HIGHLIGHT REEL\u2019 PULLS BACK SAINTS MOMENTUM<\/p>\n Would it be a St Kilda game in 2025 without a Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera highlight \u2014 or several? Of course not, and it was the third quarter where the out-of-contract superstar took the game by the throat after a quiet second term.<\/p>\n The 22-year-old collected up eight disposals in the stanza following half time, including one whirlwind goal from centre bounce that left the Marvel Stadium crowd in awe.<\/p>\n \u201cWanganeen-Milera is a human highlight reel!\u201d three-time AFL premiership player Cameron Mooney told Fox Footy at three-quarter time.<\/p>\n \u201cBut this is why this man is the most talked-about player in the AFL right now. To take that ball away from the centre bounce, take two bounces and bomb it from 50 \u2026 this is why he\u2019s the most exciting player in the game.\u201d<\/p>\n Nathan Buckley added: \u201cHe\u2019s been phenomenal, he just keeps coming up with the goods; whether it\u2019s off half-back or in the middle.<\/p>\n \u201cMidfielders who can hit the scoreboard, they\u2019re worth their weight in gold.\u201d<\/p>\n So high was the utility\u2019s work rate throughout the match, that at one point he ran from full-back to full-forward in the same play \u2014 burning any opponent that tried to keep up with him until he got until the other end of the ground.<\/p>\n 1. \u2018CAN UNDERSTAND WHY YOU\u2019D BE AGGRIEVED\u2019: ROSS\u2019 PRE-GAME SOCIAL MEDIA SWIPE EXPLAINED<\/p>\n