ESSENDON 2.2 7.3 9.4 12.6 (78) HAWTHORN 1.3 3.5 7.8 11.10 (76)
Goals: Essendon: J Daniher 3, J Carlisle 2, P Chapman 2, T Colyer 2, C Hooker, T Bellchambers, Z Merrett. Hawthorn: J Gunston 3, L Breust 2, P Puopolo 2, B Hill, C Rioli, J Roughead, J Sicily.
Best: Essendon: Hurley, Watson, Heppell, Goddard, Hooker, Cooney. Hawthorn: Lewis, Gunston, Lake, Burgoyne, Rioli.
Umpires: Simon Meredith, Dean Margetts, Nicholas Foot.
Official Crowd: 59,866 at MCG.

Football has changed plenty since the back-to-back premierships in 1984-85 that Essendon's past champions celebrated this weekend, culminating in Sunday's Bombers-Hawthorn blockbuster.

But one thing will never change. The ability to "seize the moment" will always be the difference between winning and losing.

Jake Carlisle had his chance midway through the third quarter on Sunday. But when he missed a point-blank set shot from 10 metres out, a lead that should have been 26 points went to 21.

A couple of minutes later, the ball went down the other end and landed on the chest of Hawthorn star Jack Gunston, who coolly slotted a set shot from 40 metres out on a tough angle.

That set off a momentum switch that many had predicted. The "unbeatable" Hawks would surge over the top of the tiring Bombers, ripe for the picking after their stunning capitulation to Sydney last week.

Essendon fans must have had a sinking feeling of deja vu at that point, as the Hawks reshuffled their line-up and proved again why they are a champion team, rather than a team of champions.

They moved Jarryd Roughead into the ruck, after he was completely blanketed by Michael Hurley in the first half, and Ben McEvoy was sent to centre-half-back - a move made necessary by the late withdrawal of Josh Gibson and then the loss of James Frawley late in the first quarter with a shoulder injury.

From that point on, the Hawks rushed over the Bombers, led by Gunston (20 disposals and three goals) and Jordan Lewis, who in the last quarter alone had 15 disposals, two clearances and three inside-50s.

With two minutes remaining, the Hawks led by 10 points with the ball deep inside their forward 50 and the Bombers, who had kicked just three goals since half-time, were out on their feet.

The game had gone to script, albeit not many would have predicted how impotent the Bombers could make the Hawks look.

On only a handful of occasions under Alastair Clarkson has Hawthorn been restricted to just three goals at half-time.

The Bombers' relentless pressure had forced Hawthorn to be extremely un-Hawthorn-like with their execution and decision-making.

Jobe Watson and Hurley led the determined effort, with Adam Cooney and Dyson Heppell jumping up every time a touch of class was required.

But with two minutes remaining, every player in the Hawks' forward half and Essendon needing two goals to steal an improbable victory, there was no way they could do it. No way.

This was a team, remember, which had the majority of its list unable to play in the NAB Challenge and was so heartbreakingly overrun by the Swans in round one.

But, then again, if there is one group of players who have learnt to never give up over the past few seasons, then surely it is these Bombers.

Somehow the ball broke free, went the length of the ground and ended up in the lap of Travis Colyer, who raced into an open goal.

From the next bounce, the Bombers went forward, bombing the ball to a pack deep inside 50.

As it spilled out into space, it became Cale Hooker's time to seize the moment.

The defender ran on to it and launched a snap over his shoulder that he will remember for the rest of his life. It gave the Bombers a two-point lead, and yet there was still one more twist to come.

With three seconds remaining, Hawk Cyril Rioli burst into space and sent a long ball to Jarryd Roughead 30 metres out from goal.

Bombers defenders lunged all over him, as they had done all day, but in their desperation, left Luke Breust alone on the ground.

As the Hawks small forward roved the pack and broke free, the siren sounded. A second later, Breust kicked the goal that would have won it for the Hawks.