Bombers win thriller over gutsy North Melbourne

Essendon have survived a massive scare to strengthen their grip on an AFL top-eight spot with a tense six-point win over injury-hit North Melbourne.

A game of swinging momentum eventually fell the Bombers’ way when substitute Massimo D’Ambrosio snapped the match-winning goal with two minutes left in a 16.9 (105) to 15.9 (99) victory at Marvel Stadium.

The second-from-bottom Kangaroos trailed by 20 points at quarter-time and lost important midfielders Jy Simpkin and Hugh Greenwood to concussion before the main break.

But they fought back with six consecutive goals and led by 17 points during the third term.

The Bombers kicked six of the next seven majors to turn for home with a lead and got their noses back in front in a nerve-wracking final quarter, boosting their finals hopes in the process.

The lead changed hands four times in the last term and scores were level in the final few minutes before D’Ambrosio stepped up with the game on the line.

Kyle Langford booted four goals for Essendon and Zach Merrett finished with a game-high 34 disposals, while Jye Caldwell (27 touches), Jordan Ridley (21) and Nic Martin (21, two goals) were important.

Cameron Zurhaar kicked four goals for North and Ben McKay had some massive moments in defence.

An undermanned midfield led by Will Phillips (28 disposals), Bailey Scott (19) and Harry Sheezel (21) threatened to lift the Kangaroos to a huge upset.

There were early alarm bells for North as their opponents’ ability to waltz out of stoppages led to the Bombers kicking four of the first five goals.

Merrett produced a massive opening term, racking up 17 disposals, five clearances and two goals by the first break as Essendon opened up a 20-point lead.

But Liam Shiels put the clamps on the Bombers’ ball-winner in the second term, limiting him to five touches.

North kicked three unanswered goals in the second term and rattled off the first three majors of the third, with Tarryn Thomas’ snap putting them 17 points up.

Three goals in five minutes put the Bombers back in front in a game of rapidly swinging momentum.

Essendon fans got some light relief in an intense third term when Andrew Phillips’ shanked kick led to a Nic Martin mark – after the ball bounced off his head – and goal to give them an 11-point break at the final change.

There were four lead changes in the final term and North’s Jaidyn Stephenson levelled the scores with a brilliant snap with three minutes left, only to be outdone by D’Ambrosio.